GeneBio Appointed as Exclusive commercial representative of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics

Geneva Bioinformatics (GeneBio) S.A., in association with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), announced today that it has been named exclusive commercial representative for the SIB. By teaming up with the SIB, the developer of key proteomics tools and protein databases like SWISS-PROT, PROSITE and SWISS-2DPAGE, GeneBio expects to realize its goal of becoming the premier provider of proteomics products and services.

Through GeneBio, commercial users can now access premium products, more frequent updates, support, and training for databases and tools developed by SIB scientists. These high-value protein and proteomics databases and services, along with innovative, state of the art products developed in-house, form the foundation of GeneBio's product line.

Initially the products to be distributed include SWISS-PROT, the premier protein sequence database for Life Science researchers maintained jointly by the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) - an outstation of the European Molecular Biology laboratory (EMBL); the PROSITE motif database; and the SWISS-2DPAGE database. Over 200,000 corporate and academic users around the world access these products, via bioinformatics software and the Internet.

SIB's products will continue to be free for academic and non-profit users. However, beginning on September 1, 1998, SWISS-PROT, PROSITE, and SWISS-2DPAGE will be available to commercial users by subscription only. These databases will be administered by GeneBio on behalf of the SIB. The majority of the subscription income collected by GeneBio will be returned to SIB and EBI to fund continued development.

GeneBio will propose a premium subscription service, SWISS-PROT Plus, which will include technical support, databases on CD-ROM disks and printed documentation. A secure version of the widely used ExPASy proteomics Web server will also be offered. 

"By appointing GeneBio as our exclusive commercial representative, we can move away from the fundraising activities that have diverted our efforts over the past 2 years and focus on the science of producing these databases," says Dr. Amos Bairoch, author of the SWISS-PROT database and founding member of the SIB. "With the support of commercial users, we can keep up more efficiently with the existing data flow and add useful features to our databases that would not be possible with government funding alone. All academic and non-profit users will continue to access the SIB's databases and tools free of charge and will notice nothing but improvements."

Jenny Fichmann, CEO of GeneBio, also notes the synergistic relationship between the two organizations. "We hope to provide the most useful proteomics products available in a way that is fair and equitable for all involved." says Dr. Fichmann. " By asking commercial institutions to participate in the funding of proteomics database development through subscribing to these valuable services, all Life Science researchers will benefit. With this commercial support we can ensure more frequent and more timely updates, add information, and preserve the stability and long-term availability of the tools that are most central to the commercial user's research. Other services, like secure access to the ExPASy server to guarantee the security of commercial users' queries, would simply not be possible without this support."

The Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics is a non-profit foundation established to promote and support Swiss national research and training in the growing field of bioinformatics. SIB's founding members include: Ron Appel, Geneva University Hospital; Amos Bairoch, University of Geneva; Philippe Bucher, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC); Victor Jongeneel, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; and Manuel Peitsch, Glaxo Wellcome Experimental Research (GWER).

Geneva Bioinformatics (GeneBio) S.A. is a private company based in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in November 1997, GeneBio's mission is to provide high quality proteomics databases, software tools and services through in-house development and strategic alliances with key research institutions and companies. 

For more information, please contact Alistair Blair-Davies by phone at +41 22 702.99.00 or by fax at +41 22 702.99.99. You can also send us email at info@genebio.com.

SWISS-PROT, PROSITE, SWISS-2DPAGE and ExPASy are trademarks of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect GeneBio's current expectation uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the Company's research strategy, the ability to implement new technologies, the impact of technological advances and competition. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. GeneBio disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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