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 :Although
there is still much important work to be done in DNA
sequencing, we realise that deciphering the genetic code is not
an endpoint. It’s the prelude to functional biology, or understanding
how genes and proteins
and other cellular factors interact in normal development, in disease
and in individual responses to treatment.
This task is dauntingly complex. Genes are found in the core of
a cell and are assembled from DNA, the recipe for the creation of
a human being. We need to understand what the 30,000 or so genes
in the human body actually do. But that is just the tip of the iceberg,
because our 30,000 genes carry the code for the 100,000 to 500,000
proteins in our body. Proteins are the workhorses of the cells from
which our organs and bodies are built, and they are usually the
target for drug action – because if we can cause a protein that
is important in disease to do something – or stop doing something!
– then we can influence the course of the disease. Environmental
factors, too, influence how genes and proteins function, so these
also have to be taken into account.
In a sense, then, functional biology is a ‘back to biology’ movement.
It focuses on the big picture, cuts across all disciplines and seeks
to make sense of the vast amount of information being generated
about genes, proteins and biochemistry. And that is exactly where
Amersham Biosciences has its strength. For the past several years,
we’ve invested heavily in developing a robust family of high throughput
technologies designed to help scientists identify and characterise
genes and proteins, and now through informatics and cell-based assay
products we are helping them understand exactly what these genes
and proteins do – hence functional biology. This is important because
such knowledge will at last deliver the promise that molecular biology
has held out for drug discovery and understanding the fundamental
basis of disease.
Each of
these acquisitions has been on our radar for some time. They are
part of our strategic ‘master plan’ for strengthening our leadership
in protein separations, which is currently the main growth driver
in Amersham Biosciences; and for repositioning our discovery systems
business and moving it towards profitability.
In protein separations, our acquisition of two filtration companies,
AG Technology and InnovaSep Technology, takes us into more steps
of the biopharmaceutical
manufacturing process – an important benefit for our customers and
a source of new growth for us. We’ve already sold our first integrated
chromatography
and filtration system.
Investments in discovery systems have been carefully targeted to
support our move towards profitability either by leveraging new
products into a market we already have, or by enhancing the value
of existing products. Motorola’s CodeLink™ business in pre-arrayed
slides for genetic research gives us superior, patent-protected
products and expandable technology in a large and rapidly growing
market that we address today with our Lucidea™ system for customer
arrayed slides. Amersham Biosciences has the expertise and commercial
muscle to capitalise on the significant opportunities this technology
presents. Moreover, we believe this technology may provide important
new opportunities for our colleagues in Amersham Health, in the
area of clinical diagnostics.
Earlier this year we acquired a controlling stake in Cimarron,
our long term partner in informatics. This will help us better meet
the needs of our customers for advanced software systems to handle
the enormous amounts of data being generated in genomics
and proteomics
through the instruments we already supply them. The first informatics
systems under the Scierra™ brand will reach the market later this
year.
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