Biosite^® Discovery

Advancing Diagnosis Through Discovery

Biosite Discovery, launched in 1999, is a high-profile research institute within the Company’s own walls, one that is linked to some of the most exciting developments taking shape in medicine today. Working with leading academic researchers, Biosite is undertaking an unprecedented diagnostic discovery effort that may provide valuable information as to how protein levels correlate or do not correlate to disease. Success in identifying markers of disease could make a difference to physicians who currently rely on subjective evaluations, and to patients, who can suffer irreparable damage due to the lack of good diagnostic tools.

“Marker Mining” – A three-pronged approach to marker development

“Marker mining” is a process through which analysis is conducted on both known disease markers and potential markers in order to determine their utility for diagnostic applications. If the diagnostic utility of a protein marker is confirmed, it will then be reviewed for commercialization potential, with high-value markers added to our product development pipeline. This strategy is intended to form the basis for a portfolio of novel and exclusive products.

Within Biosite Discovery, a three-pronged approach to marker development ensures that we have ample access to candidate markers that might form the basis for proprietary diagnosis tools.

Internal Discovery

Through its internal research program, Biosite Discovery actively accumulates targets with suspected association to targeted disease states, then uses patient samples provided by clinical collaborators to validate diagnostic utility.

External Discovery

External discovery, sustained through Biosite Discovery’s antibody development services, provides another means of gaining access to novel protein targets. In return for providing biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners with high affinity human or murine antibodies, Biosite may gain certain diagnostic rights to partners’ drug targets. These may then be evaluated for diagnostic utility. Biosite Discovery’s cost-effective, high capacity Omniclonal^® antibody development service has attracted leading partners, including Amgen, Eli Lilly, MedImmune and Medarex. Through these collaborations Biosite has accumulated diagnostic licenses for multiple proteins, in addition to a revenue stream that helps support long-term discovery opportunities.

Licensing

While most product candidates are likely to be found through internal or external research programs, Biosite Discovery is also opportunistically acquiring diagnostic rights to markers. Such was the case with BNP, an important marker that was licensed from Scios Inc. in 1997. When initially licensed, the potential of BNP was unproven. Biosite Discovery conducted the research needed to validate the clinical significance of BNP’s relationship to congestive heart failure and developed the antibodies that formed the basis for the eventual development of the product.