TGen News & Press Releases

• Written by Steve Yozwiak /
• Posted Thursday June 30, 2005

TGen Drug Development Services ("TD2") Opens on Mayo Campus

TD2 integrates genomic technologies to advance drug development

Phoenix, AZ, June 30, 2005 -- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) today announced the official opening of its drug development services unit known as TD2. Located at the new Mayo Clinic Collaborative Research Building on the Scottsdale campus of Mayo Clinic, TD2 has over 10,000 square feet of wet and dry laboratory space.

Advances in genomic discoveries and technologies are bringing in a new era of personalized medicine, and in the process, transforming the nature of drug development. TD2 is designed to integrate these genomic advances with progressive drug development strategies aimed at developing targeted therapies for patients with cancer.

"With more than 1,000 new drug candidates in development for cancer, there is a tremendous need to bring the latest technologies to bear on preclinical and clinical development programs," said Richard Love, Managing Director TGen Accelerators. "TD2 expects to be on the leading edge of utilizing genomic tools to guide the drug development process and ultimately match the right drug with the right patient."

TD2 helps investigators from research institutions, biotech and pharmaceutical companies evaluate the efficacy of their drug candidate by using preclinical models, genomic tools and coordination of Phase I clinical trials at various clinical facilities, including Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale Healthcare, the Arizona Cancer Center, and U.S. Oncology. TD2 also provides central coordination of an international team of investigators who are conducting studies in patients with pancreatic cancer. Although initially focused in oncology, TD2 expects to expand its capabilities to other disease areas including neurological diseases and diabetes.

TD2 is led by noted scientist and physician, Dr. Dan Von Hoff, TGen's Director of Translational Research. "We are extraordinarily fortunate to have the leadership of Dr. Von Hoff," said Steve Marsh, General Manager of TD2. "He has led teams bringing more than 200 new anticancer drugs into clinical development and has played a pivotal role in getting many new anticancer drugs approved by the FDA."

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About TGen
The mission of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is to make and translate genomic discoveries into advances in human health. Translational genomics research is a relatively new field employing innovative advances arising from the Human Genome Project and applying them to the development of diagnostics, prognostics and therapies for cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and other complex diseases. TGen is focused on personalized medicine and plans to accomplish its goals through robust and disease-focused research programs and its state-of-the-art bioinformatics and computational biology facilities.

Media Contacts:

Galen Perry (602) 343-8423
Amy Erickson (602) 343-8522