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Iconix Announces Chemogenomic Profiling Agreement With Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconix Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has signed an agreement with Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NBIX) to provide the San Diego-based company with chemogenomic analyses on candidate compounds in Neurocrine drug discovery programs. As part of the agreement, scientists will apply Iconix's DrugMatrix(R) technology to provide a gene expression-based chemogenomic work-up on a minimum of 12 Neurocrine compounds. The program will identify pharmacological and toxicological biomarkers, detail biochemical processes to validate new biomarkers, and is anticipated to provide Neurocrine with more sensitive and timely data on the relative toxicity and pharmacology of these molecules than can be obtained with current tools and techniques. Under the terms of the agreement, Iconix will present summary analyses on these selected compounds that will include, analysis of "on- and off-target" effects including toxicity as revealed by gene expression profiles, the impact of these gene expression changes on critical biological pathways and Iconix's proprietary Drug Signatures(TM) biomarker information. This type of summary analysis is designed to rapidly provide a detailed overview of each compounds' properties. For a selected subset of the compounds Iconix will provide full analyses based on the complete suite of Iconix tools. The full analyses will focus on identifying toxicities and pathologies that may not have been identified by Neurocrine in their normal screening cascade. While the primary focus of the agreement is the analysis of expression data from liver tissue, Iconix will also provide additional summary analysis of gene expression changes in other tissues (e.g. heart, kidney, spleen or muscle) and will provide data generated by in vitro experiments in rat primary hepatocytes. "We are pleased to begin working with Neurocrine on this program that will allow them to prioritize candidates and make clinical development decisions armed with the fullest available chemogenomic and pharmacologic data," said Jim Neal, CEO, Iconix Pharmaceuticals. "Neurocrine is well known for its in-house capabilities in the areas of toxicology, PK and other screening technologies so we are especially pleased that we can work with them to provide even greater insight into the compounds being evaluated." Iconix has established a chemogenomic analysis platform for the assessment and prediction of lead candidate mechanism of action and toxicity based on genomic profiles and biomarkers. Iconix's DrugMatrix database includes extensive and standardized gene expression, histopathology, blood chemistry, molecular pharmacology and literature profiles on over 600 benchmark drugs, toxicants and other standards. Iconix's Drug Signatures library represents over 300 validated genomic biomarkers, derived by Iconix from DrugMatrix, that predict with very high accuracy the mechanism, toxicity and side effects of candidate drug molecules. About Iconix: Iconix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is pioneering the new field of chemogenomics, the integration of chemistry and genomics to profile drug candidates. Iconix's chemogenomic capabilities enable pharmaceutical companies to increase the odds of advancing the right compounds to the clinic, reducing attrition rates and the costs of drug discovery. Iconix provides reference systems and know-how to predict toxic liabilities, side effects and mechanisms of drug candidates. The company has collaborations with Bristol Myers Squibb, Abbott Laboratories, ICOS, Eli Lilly, Schering-Plough (NYSE:SGP), AstraZeneca, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd. and other leading companies. Iconix also provides research, training and support to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) under an agreement to advance CDER's study of the application of genomic technologies in the regulatory approval process. Iconix's DrugMatrix system has been installed at the FDA for use by CDER scientists and reviewers in a diverse range of chemogenomics applications. The company also has strategic partnerships with leading life sciences companies including MDS Pharma Services (TSE:MDS)(NYSE:MDZ) and GE Healthcare. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Iconix was founded in 1998 and is privately held. For more information, visit http://www.iconixpharm.com/. CONTACT: Alan Engelberg of Iconix Pharmaceuticals, +1-650-567-5527, or ; or Jennifer Larson, +1-415-409-2729, or , for Iconix Pharmaceuticals. DATASOURCE: Iconix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Alan Engelberg of Iconix Pharmaceuticals, +1-650-567-5527, or ; or Jennifer Larson, +1-415-409-2729, or , for Iconix Pharmaceuticals Web site: http://www.iconixpharm.com/

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