Finding the right business model for systems biology (SB) technology providers has been challenging — that’s hardly a new theme in biotech. Most SB pioneers were founded as platform providers but soon encountered difficulties growing their sales sufficiently to increase valuations. Genstruct, a pioneer in using computational approaches to infer mechanistic hypotheses from large experimental data sets, is no exception.

Genstruct Inc., a systems biology company focused on identifying molecular mechanisms, networks and biomarkers to better understand large scale biology announced today that it has entered into a Master Research Agreement with Pfizer designed to cover current and future collaborations. The first collaboration under this new agreement is in the area of preclinical drug safety, focusing initially on a systems biology analysis of underlying mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury.

MethylGene Inc. (TSX: MYG) and Pharmion Corporation (NASDAQ: PHRM) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated the Companies' histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, MGCD0103, as an Orphan Drug for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in the United States.

Bayhill Therapeutics, Inc. (“Bayhill”) announced today that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to the proposed initial public offering of shares of its common stock. Copies of the Bayhill registration statement on Form S-1 can be accessed over the internet through the SEC’s website at edgar.sec.gov. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. All of the shares of common stock to be sold in this offering are proposed to be sold by Bayhill.

Bayhill Therapeutics, Inc. (“Bayhill”) announced today that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to the proposed initial public offering of shares of its common stock. Copies of the Bayhill registration statement on Form S-1 can be accessed over the internet through the SEC’s website at edgar.sec.gov. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. All of the shares of common stock to be sold in this offering are proposed to be sold by Bayhill.

MethylGene Inc. (TSX:MYG) and Pharmion Corporation (Nasdaq: PHRM) today announced maturing data from the Phase I/II study investigating the combined use of MGCD0103, a novel, isotype-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, and Vidaza® (azacitidine for injection) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). A 53 percent response rate (n=19) was demonstrated at the 90 mg dose with a median time to response of less than two months. The overall results indicate a 36 percent response rate for patients evaluated at all doses (n=52 evaluable patients) in this Phase I/II study. The data were presented in an oral presentation today at the 49th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Atlanta.