Genostar demonstrates its bioinformatics platform for exploratory genomics Public demonstration at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, shows off unified, scaleable, user-friendly architecture

The Genostar consortium today announces the launch of its Genostar platform for exploratory genomics, the result of two and a half years research carried out by a team of more than 20 genomics and bioinformatics scientists and developers.

Paris, May 21 2002 -- The Genostar consortium today announces the launch of its Genostar platform for exploratory genomics, the result of two and a half years research carried out by a team of more than 20 genomics and bioinformatics scientists and developers. Exploratory genomics involves the study of the structure and function of genes and proteins and plays a vital role in healthcare, agrifood and other industries. Members of the consortium are GENOME express, Hybrigenics, INRIA and the Pasteur Institute (see boilerplates for profiles).

Genostar meets the challenge of working with the huge volumes and diversity of genomic data by offering scientists a new architecture based on a unified representation of data and the relationships between them. Scientists will find this approach a significant advance in genomic research as it allows the user to store, manipulate and compare different types of data, an activity hitherto fraught with problems.

Genostars designers set out to develop a comprehensive discovery platform that could be employed across all fields of genomics and manipulate and compare various categories of data. Another goal was scalability, allowing inclusion of new categories of data, customization of discovery methods and integration of new bioinformatic modules into the system. The platform also meets objectives in user-friendliness: plugnplay, interoperability between modules and compatibility with a range of operating systems. The concept of a unique, unified, bioinformatic representation of data, offering a user-friendly set of tools for synthesizing and analyzing data, is at the heart of Genostar.

Genostar is made up of three modules which run on top of a kernel that handles data and storage. GenoAnnot is dedicated to genome annotation and identifying particular genomic areas of biological interest. GenoLink analyzes the functions of what genes produce. GenoBool focuses on analysis and correlation of heterogeneous data.

Genostar is a fantastic tool for genomic exploration and a great response to the challenges arising from the scientific and industrial revolution that genomic science has created," said François Rechenmann, project coordinator and Director of Research at INRIA. We are even more proud of our achievement as it is the result of collaboration across several disciplines. We want Genostar to become a standard tool for the scientific community."

About Genostar
Genostar is a public-private consortium founded in December 1999 to provide the scientific community with an international-class bioinformatics platform for exploratory genomics. The four members of the Genostar consortium are GENOME express, Hybrigenics, INRIA and the Pasteur Institute. The first version of Genostar gives public and private sector researchers a platform offering a unified way of representing biological knowledge and able to process data from diverse sources such as high throughput sequencing, micro-arrays, proteomics and protein-protein interactions. Available soon at www.genostar.org

About GENOME express
GENOME express develops and markets high value-added solutions for functional genomics. GENOME express offers an expanded range of integrated services based on its industrial genomic platform that combines library manufacturing, high throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. The platform capabilities make it attractive to clients wishing to outsource R&D projects. An integrated genomics and proteomics platform will soon be available. It is designed to enable GENOME express to engage in proprietary target discovery, especially in the domain of bacterial genomics, one of the companys key strategic activities.
For more information: www.genomex.com

About Hybrigenics
Hybrigenics is a functional proteomics company that identifies and validates new drug targets and therapeutic molecules via protein interaction mapping, and cellular generic as well as disease-specific assays in human cells. As a key player in the post-genomics era, the Company elucidates protein functions as part of specific biological complexes or as networks of interacting proteins (so called pathways"). Because most drugs act on proteins or are themselves proteins, Hybrigenics approach shortens the path between genomics and drug development.
The Company has developed integrated biological experiment-based and in silico-based technology platforms that allow identification, selection, prioritization and validation of therapeutic targets. Hybrigenics uses these platforms on an industrial scale to discover and validate novel targets for biopharmaceutical companies and for its own internal drug discovery programs. The company builds a pipeline of proprietary biomarkers, small molecules and antibody drug products.
Hybrigenics has a well-balanced business model, combining partnership with biopharmaceutical companies in any disease area and in-house Research and Development programs. Those programs are focused on specific disease areas including: viral diseases, cancer and metabolic disorders.

For more information: www.hybrigenics.com

About INRIA
INRIA is a research institute at the heart of the information society. The National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control was founded in 1967. INRIA is a public scientific and technological institution placed under the dual authority of the French ministries of research and industry. INRIA is present in all fields that involve information and communication science and technology (ICST). Its role is, on the one hand, to carry out high-level basic and applied research, involving experimentation on innovative systems. On the other hand, the Institute must provide a strong technology transfer activity while paying keen attention to training through research, technical and scientific information diffusion, development, appraisals and participation in international programs. Health and life sciences are one of its two priority fields of application.
For more information: www.inria.fr

About the Institut Pasteur
The Institut Pasteur is a private foundation in the service of public health. It aims to contribute to preventing and combating disease in France and abroad, through scientific and medical research, teaching and public health services. Twelve scientific departments bring together 130 research teams totaling 2500 people. A pioneer in the field of the genomics of pathogenic microorganisms, it has five technical platforms covering work in genomics, DNA chips, proteomics, annotation and structural genomics. The international network of the Institut Pasteur and associated institutes has 21 members spread over the five continents.
For more information: www.pasteur.fr