Compugen: The Advent of Predictive Discovery

Compugen announced today the discovery of a genetic biomarker, CGEN-40001 for predisposition to type 2 diabetes, using its GeneVa® platform, which consists of an in silico database of approximately 350,000 predicted genetic variations in the human genome, with each predicted variation consisting of multiple consecutive nucleotides. Their press release states:

"According to the two studies performed by Compugen, approximately 15% of the Caucasian population has at least one copy of this insertion. Furthermore, the studies showed that the presence of this insertion increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50-80%."

This is a noteworthy announcement, particularly given, as observed by the press release, that an estimated 8% of the U.S. population suffers from diabetes, 90% of whom are affected by type 2 diabetes, and that worldwide, more than 150 million people are estimated to have this disorder. Following diagnosis, high-risk patients may benefit from more aggressive management either through lifestyle modification or drug treatment.

I could devote a blog entry to large scale genetic variation, but of greater significance, in my opinion, are the number and nature of Compugen's announcements thus far this year, pertaining to therapeutics and diagnostics for a broad gamut of diseases:

Compugen Announces Discovery of Genetic Biomarker for Predisposition to Type 2 Diabetes, Nov. 9, 2009

Compugen Announces Preeclampsia Biomarker Collaboration, Nov. 5, 2009

Compugen and Bayer Schering Pharma to Collaborate on Compugen Discovered Oncology Target and Splice Variants, Oct. 13, 2009

Compugen Announces Positive Therapeutic Effects of Novel Peptide in Animal Model of Retinopathy, July 21, 2009

Compugen Announces Positive Therapeutic Effects of Novel Peptide in Animal Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, June 23, 2009

Compugen Announces In Vivo Confirmation of Cardiovascular Therapeutic Potential for Two Novel Peptides, May 14, 2009

Compugen Announces Inhibition of Angiogenesis by Novel Peptide, Apr. 1, 2009

Teva to Utilize Compugen-Discovered Biomarkers for Pre-Clinical Detection of Drug-induced Kidney Toxicity, March 24, 2009

Compugen Announces Positive Therapeutic Effects of Relaxin Receptor Peptide Ligand in Pulmonary Fibrosis Animal Model, March 17, 2009

Compugen Announces Discovery of Biomarker Candidate for Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer and Signing of Collaboration Agreement, Feb. 3, 2009

Although there can be no assurances that any of these candidates will ultimately result in marketable products, Compugen's "discovery on demand", based upon understanding biological phenomena on the molecular level, is obviously yielding results and providing hope for millions suffering from diseases heretofore thought incurable.

I can only hope that Big Pharma will learn from Compugen's struggle down this lonely path, and that instead of mergers aimed at reducing costs and consolidating shrinking pipelines, Big Pharma will redouble their R&D efforts, based upon Compugen's new science.

[As noted in a prior blog entry, I am a Compugen shareholder, this blog entry is not a recommendation to buy or sell Compugen shares, and in mid-September 2009 I began work as a part-time external consultant to Compugen. The opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of Compugen.]