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Grand Rapids, Michigan (August 14, 2006) - The Core Technology Alliance (CTA), a collaborative statewide network of advanced technology facilities, today announced its first agreement with a major out-of-state pharmaceutical firm. New Jersey based Schering-Plough Research Institute, the research and development division of Schering-Plough Corporation, will partner with the CTA to support Schering-Plough's drug discovery efforts.
Schering-Plough expects to initiate pilot projects with several of the CTA's nine core facilities taking advantage of Michigan's unique infrastructure for drug discovery. These cores include the Michigan High Throughput Screening Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Structural Biology Center at Michigan State University and Van Andel Institute (VAI), and Proteome Consortium at the University of Michigan and VAI. Currently, Schering-Plough is developing the study designs for these pilot projects.
"We are beginning to see the fruits of some of the early work we've done to ensure that Michigan is a leader in life sciences," said VAI Chairman and CEO David Van Andel. "Our research combined with the integrated resources available through the CTA are advancing Michigan to the forefront in drug development. Schering-Plough's collaboration with the CTA is a tremendous testament to Michigan's efforts to grow a biotech industry that can successfully compete in the global marketplace."
Schering-Plough's interest in collaborating with the CTA stemmed from a recent project with VAI. In 2005, the company licensed a biologic software application developed by the Institute. Schering-Plough is using the software, called Xenobase, to enhance its drug development process by applying the technology to its work with disease models and clinical patient samples. "As we worked together on the Xenobase agreement it became clear to us that Schering-Plough could benefit from the type of core services available through the CTA," said Van Andel Research Institute Director and CTA co-founder George Vande Woude, Ph.D. "The beauty of the CTA is that it has strong value for both entrepreneurs and global pharmaceutical leaders like Schering-Plough."
The Schering-Plough pilot projects will be used to inform all aspects of early drug development and applied to many therapy areas.
Michigan's life science industry has realized significant growth in recent years. This growth is due in large part to strong private investments and the state's actions to seed the industry. With the creation of the CTA, Michigan has built a collaborative pipeline for drug development. By making sophisticated core technologies available to biotech and pharmaceutical firms, entrepreneurs and researchers, the CTA serves as a catalyst for biotech R & D and development of the life science industry statewide.
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The CTA is a not-for-profit organization founded by members of the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor - Wayne State University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and the Van Andel Institute - to provide leadership, oversight and commercialization to the state's core facility infrastructure. It was also created to market advanced technology and specialized research services to scientists, entrepreneurs, private research institutes and biotechnology pharmaceutical firms. CTA members include Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Van Andel Institute, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.
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