$27-M U of S-Led Genomics Project Launched to Fight Infectious Diseases

Posted November 26, 2002


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 26, 2002 2002-11-20-OTHER

$27-M U of S-Led Genomics Project Launched to Fight Infectious Diseases

A national team of world-class researchers led by the University of
Saskatchewan and two corporate sponsors have signed an agreement launching a
$27-million genomics project to fight infectious diseases.

The project, the largest funded by Genome Canada to date, will bring $19
million in research funding to Saskatchewan and lead to creation of close to
40 jobs in Saskatoon.

The project will use genomics -- the science of decoding the genetic code of
life -- to better understand how immunity to infectious agents works and how
it can be enhanced. This work is expected to lead to development of new
medicines to combat infectious diseases in both humans and animals.

Genome Canada funding of $13.5 million was announced last April by Industry
Minister Allan Rock. With today's announcement, the two corporate sponsors
will contribute a total of $10.5 million. The remaining funding is currently
being finalized.

"This research will help develop new and effective strategies for infectious
disease control in both animals and humans, paving the way for the next
generation of products for both animal and human health and food safety,"
said Lorne Babiuk, director of VIDO, the U of S world-class vaccine research
centre. "This could result, for example, in new methods of vaccine delivery
or new drugs that can serve as replacements for antibiotics."

Babiuk, principal investigator for the project, and co-principal
investigator Bob Hancock of the University of British Columbia will work
closely with researchers at VIDO, UBC, Simon Fraser University, and the
British Columbia Cancer Agency.

With the signing of the agreement, the project's two corporate sponsors --
Vancouver-based Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Pyxis Genomics Canada Inc.,
the Canadian subsidiary of Chicago-bsed Pyxis Genomics Inc. -- have been
granted the exclusive right to commercialize discoveries arising from the
research. Inimex will focus on human health care products, while Pyxis will
have commercialization rights in the area of animal health.

Pyxis has established a Saskatoon office at Innovation Place and will now
begin to recruit about eight staff, including research scientists,
technicians and post-doctoral fellows. Another 30 jobs will be created at
VIDO to do the research.

Genome Canada is a not-for-profit corporation set up to help Canada become a
world leader in genomics and proteomics research in areas such as
agriculture, environment, fisheries, forestry and health.

More information about the project and VIDO's role is available at:
http://www.genomeprairie.ca/research/immunity.htm

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For more information, contact:

Lorne Babiuk
VIDO Director
(306) 966-7475
babiuk@skyway.usask.ca
http://www.vido.org/

Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
Office of Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research