PARIS - Genset SA and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research entered into a two-year research and collaboration agreement aimed at discovering and characterizing genes involved in obesity and diabetes. The deal also gives Genset an exclusive license to a secreted protein known as Acrp30, which was discovered by Whitehead and is covered by its U.S. patent for "DNA Encoding a Novel Serum Protein Produced Exclusively in Adipocytes."

Genset has already evaluated polymorphisms in the human gene encoding the Acrp30 protein, as well as other genes in the same pathway, and the results showed that Acrp30 effectively contributes to obesity and Type II diabetes. Other studies carried out by the Paris-based genomics company also support the hypothesis that this protein plays a role in the regulation of body weight. A team led by Whitehead's principal investigator, Harvey Lodish, who was the co-inventor of its patented technology, will collaborate with Genset to design a high-throughput functional cloning program for identifying and validating other genes involved in these pathologies.

Last May, Genset's U.S. subsidiary, Genset Corp., of La Jolla, Calif., set up a physiological genomics department with the aim of expanding and developing the company's research program in the area of obesity and associated cardiovascular and diabetic complications, which is now the most advanced of its in-house gene discovery programs. Among other things, Genset identified the gene coding for a lipolysis-stimulated receptor, validating its genetic role and establishing an interaction with Acrp30. It is now undertaking large-scale association studies to discover and characterize other genes that could be associated with the mechanisms leading to obesity.

Its work on the discovery and functional characterization of genes associated with these conditions has already given rise to 14 patent applications covering genes and polymorphisms related to a metabolic pathway that controls the removal of dietary lipids and energy metabolism.

The Whitehead Institute, of Cambridge, Mass., is a non-profit, independent research and teaching institution specialized in cell biology, cancer research, genomics, structural biology and infectious diseases. It is affiliated with MIT for teaching purposes, but is financially autonomous and has complete control over its own research programs. Lodish, who is also professor of biology at MIT, is joining Genset's scientific advisory board.

Genset is expected to invest about $500,000 a year into the work, most of which will be done at Whitehead. Genset has exclusive rights to the commercial exploitation of any discoveries, and can decide whether to exploit them on its own, in conjunction with a partner or by licensing them to third parties.