Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, a leading Life Science and High Technology company with 2006 revenues of $1.8 billion, and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc., a world leader in the research and development of zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs), announced today a significant alliance focused on the development of high value laboratory research reagents based upon Sangamo's ZFP technology. The alliance combines Sigma's global marketing capabilities and significant reputation as a provider of high quality products and kits for scientific research with Sangamo's substantial expertise in the field of ZFPs.
ZFPs are the dominant class of naturally occurring proteins known as transcription factors and are found in the nucleus of every cell. They bind to DNA to regulate gene expression. Though there are many kinds of transcription factors, only ZFPs are amenable to engineering and precise targeting to a particular gene or genes of interest. By engineering ZFPs that can recognize a specific DNA sequence, Sangamo scientists have created ZFP nucleases or ZFNs(TM) that facilitate efficient and highly specific gene modification and ZFP transcription factors or ZFP TFs(TM) that specifically control gene expression and consequently, cell function. Scientists at Sigma-Aldrich and Sangamo will use ZFNs like precision "surgical instruments" to modify genes in cells and to develop and market ZFP products for broad use in numerous laboratory research reagent applications. Among the anticipated applications are cell lines with enhanced protein production performance, panels of knock-out cell lines for drug discovery, as well as novel stem cell and transgenic animal models.
"ZFPs are another great example of the leading-edge platform technologies we are adding to our expanding collection of "customer first" products and services," said Jai Nagarkatti, President and CEO of Sigma-Aldrich. "This alliance bolsters our ongoing commitment to enable science globally through innovation. We believe that Sangamo's ZFP technology could fundamentally alter the way in which research on living cells and organisms is conducted. By vastly improving the precision and efficiency with which genomes of living organisms can be modified and regulated, ZFPs provide significant potential for both research and development. Our alliance with Sangamo will enable us to create even more novel research products and services to accelerate the success of our customers while continuing to deliver exceptional value for our shareholders."
"We are extremely pleased to partner with Sigma-Aldrich, a group globally recognized as a world leader in the development and sales of innovative laboratory research reagents," said Edward Lanphier, Sangamo's president and chief executive officer. "Our business strategy is to work with partners to maximize the commercial potential of our technology platform across all fields of use. In addition, a long-term goal at Sangamo has been to increase the accessibility and appreciation of the power and broad applicability of ZFPs for a variety of DNA-based research applications. We believe that the combination of our novel ZFP platform with Sigma's proven experience in development and marketing of research products will not only aid us in this goal but will create high value products from our core technology. Sigma is at the nexus of the most profound innovations occurring in cell and molecular biology, and this gives them incredible perspective with respect to the diverse applications to which this technology can be applied. We look forward to a very exciting and rewarding relationship."