Human Genome Sciences Inc., a genomics company, will make itsdata base of human gene sequences available to Takeda ChemicalIndustries Ltd. under an agreement reached Wednesday between theJapanese pharmaceutical firm and SmithKline Beecham Corp.

In 1993, SmithKline Beecham, of Philadelphia, agreed to pay HumanGenome Sciences, of Rockville, Md., $125 million for first rights todevelop a broad variety of drugs and diagnostics based on its genesequencing data.

In the deal with Takeda, SmithKline granted the Japanese company asublicense for access to Human Genome Sciences' gene sequencedata base for drug discovery and will collaborate with Takeda onspecific projects. Takeda also will have access to bioinformaticstechnology from Human Genome Sciences and SmithKline to assistin analyzing gene functions.

Human Genome Sciences, in return, will receive royalties andmilestone payments on drugs developed by Takeda. In addition,Takeda will have an option to market in Japan products developed byHuman Genome Sciences.

Financial terms of the collaboration among the three companies werenot disclosed.

William Haseltine, Human Genome Sciences chairman and CEO,said the agreement expands the use of his company's data base,which has been developed in association with The Institute forGenomic Research in Gaitherburg, Md.

The number of genes in the genome is the subject of debate. Expertshave estimated there are anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 genes.Human Genome Sciences officials have said they have sequenced 60to 70 percent.

The deal was announced after the market closed Wednesday. HumanGenome Sciences (HGSI) ended the day at $13.25, up 25 cents andSmithKline (NSE:SBE) was at $39.37, down 75 cents. _ CharlesCraig

BioWorld

March 30, 1995

Vol. 6, No. 61

FINANCIAL SHORTFALL LEADS MACRONEX TO SEEKBUYER

Macronex Inc., unable to secure financing, is seeking a buyer to takeits preclinical work forward.

The Morrisville, N.C., privately held company has raised about $10million since its founding in late 1991. S.R. One, a venture capitalfirm in Philadelphia, is the largest shareholder.

The company's lead compound, MNX420, is from the MNX160series, developed from Macronex's MAPscan screening system thattests compounds' activities on human macrophages. Compoundsfrom the series inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and havedemonstrated activity in animal models against various inflammatorydiseases, the company said.

Richard Mueller, Macronex's president and CEO, told BioWorldWednesday that MNX420 is about a year away from the clinic, withthe first indication being cachexia in AIDS patients. "Our cash at thepresent time is not sufficient to continue operations and take thecompound to the next level," he said.

Macronex is down to three employees. It once had 21. `The idealsituation would be a company that would buy [Macronex] andmaintain a presence in North Carolina as a discovery unit, andcontinue to develop the 160 series," Mueller said.

He said Macronex has received one offer for an asset buyout, and isin discussions with three other potential buyers. "We expect toconclude an agreement within 60 days," Mueller said. _ Jim Shrine

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.