More and more molecular data will arrive over the next few years; some of it will be very valuable for more deeply understanding when and how diseases arise. Consider, for example, the fact that genes matter a great deal because they contain the instructions for producing proteins, but we need to know more about actual outputs of proteins coded for by the genes. The proteins, after all, are the actual doers of the work to promote health or fight off disease. Accordingly, it is useful to know which inherited or somatic mutations completely cut off production of a protein (null mutations), while other mutations may have a range of effects, from very little to material.
Today, researchers can answer many questions about the effect of mutations in some genes, and some combinations of genes. However, researchers seek to know more about the protein production results that arise from different combinations of inherited mutations. With that in mind, consider the disease-related knowledge, questions and hypotheses that will arise from the following collaboration, which is described in a December 14, 2018 press release from SomaLogic and deCode.
___________________________________________
deCODE Genetics, an Amgen Subsidiary, and SomaLogic Announce Collaboration to Perform Large-Scale Protein Analysis of up to 40,000 Human Samples
Largest-ever Protein Measurement Study Enhances deCODE’s Efforts in Basic Research, Drug Discovery and Novel Protein-based Diagnostics
deCODE genetics, an Amgen subsidiary, and SomaLogic, Inc. today announced a collaboration that brings together SomaLogic’s expertise in human proteins with deCODE’s expertise in human genetics. The collaboration combines deCODE’s rich data sets with SomaLogic’s leading protein measurement capabilities to enhance the understanding of how human disease and health are mediated through proteins to influence health outcomes.
“I am excited to see what deep proteomic analysis will add to what we already know about human health based on our study of genetics,” said Kári Stefánsson, M.D., Dr. Med., founder and chief executive officer of deCODE genetics. “SomaLogic’s ability to measure thousands of proteins brings a whole new dimension to our efforts, and we look forward to seeing the results.”
Under the collaboration agreement, SomaLogic will analyze up to 40,000 deCODE samples with the proprietary SOMAscan® assay, which can rapidly measure the levels of 5,000 proteins in each sample across a wide range of concentrations. deCODE will use the assay data for therapeutic drug discovery and development. SomaLogic will use the assay results and related clinical information to further develop clinical applications of the SOMAscan assay in an effort to improve health management.
“This collaboration with deCODE gives us an exciting opportunity to work with one of the most highly characterized and understood datasets in the world, as well as with world-class genomic and pharmaceutical scientists,” said Stephen Williams, M.D., chief medical officer at SomaLogic. “We are undertaking together the largest protein study ever performed — over 200 million individual protein measurements — to gain substantial new knowledge about normal and disease biology across many common and rare conditions.”
Specific details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
###
deCODE Contact Jon Gustafsson T: +354 664 1905 jon@decode.is
SomaLogic Contact Laura S. Mizoue, Ph.D. Communications Specialist T: 720 417 7509 lmizoue@somalogic.com
About deCODE genetics Based in Reykjavik, Iceland, deCODE is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Using its unique expertise and population resources, deCODE has discovered genetic risk factors for dozens of common diseases. The purpose of understanding the genetics of disease is to use that information to create new means of diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. deCODE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amgen.
About SomaLogic SomaLogic seeks to empower a healthier world by delivering actionable health-management insights for every seeker and enabler of human health. These essential insights, which are provided through a global network of partners and users, are derived from SomaLogic’s unique ability to measure changes in thousands of individual human proteins over time with high precision, sensitivity and throughput. For more information, visit www.somalogic.com and follow @somalogic on Twitter.
Forward Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of deCODE and its affiliates. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements regarding improvements in scientific understanding and drug discovery and development. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those deCODE and its affiliates project. Results may be affected by clinical and regulatory developments and their research, testing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any research and testing will lead to the identification of any particular product candidate or new potential indication for an existing product or aid in their development, or that the development of a particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product.