Perlegen, Pfizer collaboration to analyze patient DNA samples

Perlegen Sciences Inc. announced a new four-year research pact with Pfizer whereby researchers from both companies will conduct whole-genome studies involving DNA samples from clinical trials.

Mar 05, 2006|1 min read

Chris Anderson

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Perlegen Sciences Inc. announced a new four-year research pact with Pfizer whereby researchers from both companies will conduct whole-genome studies involving DNA samples from clinical trials.

"We have continued to expand our relationship with Pfizer over time," says Paul Cusenza, senior VP of Perlegen "This latest collaboration will extend until December 2009 and is a [significant amount of research] in whole-genome and replication studies to identify genes that are associated with major diseases, as well as those that predict patient response to certain medicines."

The whole-genome association studies will examine, for instance, hundreds of patients with a specific "trait of interest" of either having a particular disease or particular responsiveness to a drug. The research will scan across the entire genome to identify SNPs and genetic variance among the patients to identify the associations and then following up the findings with validation studies.