Perlegen Sciences, Inc.

Abstract

For years we have recognized that using genetics to target the right medicines to the right patients at the right time could improve healthcare; however, technical and financial constraints have prevented researchers from conducting the comprehensive, whole-genome association studies required to make such advances. Now, Perlegen and its collaborators are making personalized medicine and high density whole-genome association studies a reality. Perlegen quickly and cost-effectively analyzes millions of unique genetic variations in thousands of patients to identify the genetic differences associated with efficacy and side effects. This enables the pharmaceutical drug response to be predicted, and the therapeutic window of a treatment to be expanded. Perlegen licenses compounds that may benefit from this approach, and collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to rescue and better position medicines in their portfolios. Furthermore, the company collaborates with researchers in the public sector to discover the genetic variations associated with common diseases, paving the way for new therapeutics and diagnostics.