PARIS - The Paris-based genomics company Genset SA has entered into a pharmacogenomics collaboration with the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Synthilabo, also of Paris, aimed at selecting and optimizing a lead for an undisclosed central nervous system (CNS) disease.

Starting from the fact that genetic differences among polymorphisms in the molecular structure of biological targets, such as enzymes and receptors, can cause variations in target lead interactions and result in differences in the activity of given lead compounds, Genset and Sanofi-Synthilabo aim initially to discover and analyze polymorphisms in a large number of different biological targets for drug development. Sanofi-Synthilabo is developing a number of compounds that interact with these targets, and Genset is to utilize its genomics and molecular biology technology platform to identify the most significant polymorphisms in the patient population and to generate corresponding clone variants.

Sanofi-Synthilabo will use the polymorphism data and clones provided by Genset to carry out further testing on the various leads it has in development and to optimize its lead selection process. This could lead it to modify or drop some leads altogether, and to continue the development of others without any changes.

Under their agreement, Genset will receive research funding and milestone payments from Synthilabo, followed at a later date by clinical milestones and royalties on any drugs whose development entails the "active use" of the data and clones provided by Genset. In exchange, Genset will grant Sanofi-Synthilabo an exclusive worldwide license to use the data and clones resulting from the collaboration for the development and commercialization of drugs to treat the disease in question.

This is Genset's third pharmacogenomics collaboration following those concluded with Abbott Laboratories and Pharmacia & Upjohn. As for Sanofi-Synthilabo, which resulted from the merger of Sanofi and Synthilabo at the end of 1998, its relationship with Genset dates back to mid-1996, when Genset and Synthilabo entered into a research collaboration for the discovery of genes associated with prostate cancer.