Overview

Galapagos Genomics NV is a functional genomics company using its phenotype selection libraries (PhenoSelect) to discover therapeutic targets. The company was formed in 1998 through a joint venture, combining Crucell NV’s viral technology with the automation and bioinformatics know-how of Tibotec-Virco NV.

The PhenoSelect libraries for gene discovery and the custom adenovirus production services were developed with the AdAptTM/PER.C6TM adenoviral vector technology licensed from parent company Crucell. The company’s functional genomics program is constructing phenotype selection libraries based on human cDNA collections originating from different tissues, accessible to partners through collaborations. Galapagos also can develop customized functional assays.

The PhenoSelect libraries contain cDNA from specific tissue samples, with the goal of obtaining the complete repertoire of human genes. The expression libraries are accessible in collaborative agreements with partners. Galapagos is developing and implementing the full-length PhenoSelect libraries, which contain only sequence-verified full-length genes and are intended both for gene discovery and validation. The full-length genes are collected from in-house programs and from academic and/or industrial sources. The full-length library is then used for functional screening in a high-throughput setting.

Galapagos also offers a custom production service of recombinant adenoviruses used to generate functional data, which can be obtained by selection for a phenotypic change in a cell-based assay, as well as by testing the genes in an in vivo model.

Partners

Collaboration to identify orphan GPCR ligands: Euroscreen SA.

Broad functional genomics collaboration involving the use of PhenoSelect expression platform for gene target identification and validation applications: Pharmacia Corp.

Collaboration to use adenovirus technology as a tool to validate the utility of genes as new drug targets: Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals.

Functional characterization of newly discovered proteins involved in Incyte’s therapeutic discovery and drug target validation programs: Incyte Genomics Inc.

Collaboration to identify and validate novel drug targets against Alzheimer’s disease: Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology.

Research collaboration to identify the function of proteins encoded by novel genes in selected target protein families: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Research collaboration to identify the function of proteins encoded by newly discovered genes involved in asthma: Bayer Yakuhin Ltd., a unit of Bayer AG.

Collaboration to evaluate the precise function of proteins encoded by newly discovered genes involved in allergic response: UCB Research Inc., a unit of UCB Pharmaceuticals.

Other partners include the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Isotis NV and The Flemish Institute for the Promotion of Industrial Scientific and Technological Research (Belgium).