Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

COMT gene Research

Two companies announced in this press release a joint research program on COMT gene inhibitors. The COMT gene (or more specifically specific variations of the gene) has been found to be very strongly linked to schizophrenia and it is thought by some researchers to be one of the key genes associated with schizophrenia.

CeNeS and Tripos Announce Advancement in COMT Inhibitor Discovery Program

DATELINE: CAMBRIDGE, U.K., & ST. LOUIS April 14, 2005

CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM:CEN), the Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical company, and Tripos, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRPS), a provider of drug discovery informatics products and chemistry research, today announced that they have reached important milestones in their joint research partnership on COMT inhibitors and have consequently entered into a new agreement to continue their collaboration. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Following CeNeS' innovative research program that commenced in 2003, the two companies have been working together and have identified several series of novel compounds active against the clinically validated target catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT).

"CeNeS' strategy is to develop novel products that reduce the risks inherent in drug development by focusing on known mechanisms and established clinical targets," said Neil Clark, chief executive officer of CeNeS. "Two COMT inhibitors are marketed currently. One does not enter the brain effectively, and the other is associated with serious liver toxicity. Our goal is to identify compounds without these deficits."

Important recent data also shows that our COMT inhibitors may have therapeutic utility in psychotic disorders including schizophrenia."

About CeNeS

CeNeS (CEN.L) is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development and commercialization of drugs for pain control, sedation and other CNS disorders such as Parkinson's disease. The company is based in Cambridge, England. For further information visit www.cenes.com.

About Tripos

Tripos (Nasdaq:TRPS) combines cutting-edge technology and innovative science to deliver leading chemistry-research products and services for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and other life science industries. Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., Tripos spans the world with global research operations and an international client base. www.tripos.com.