Cytokinetics Sponsors Second Special Interest Subgroup on Cytoskeletal Pharmacology and Human Disease
To be Held in Conjunction with the American Society for Cell Biology 42nd Annual Meeting
South San Francisco, CA, December 12, 2002 - December 12, 2002
Cytokinetics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel classes of small-molecule therapeutics focused to the field of cytoskeletal pharmacology, announced today that it is again sponsoring a Special Interest Subgroup at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. The subgroup, to be held on Saturday, December 14, 2002, will assemble a group of experts to discuss recent findings regarding the role of cytoskeletal proteins in human disease.
Cytoskeletal proteins have been implicated in the etiology or pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disease and fungal, bacterial and viral infections. The growth of knowledge in this field of both normal biological and pathological functioning has created an exceptional opportunity to understand disease within the context of these dynamic proteins. Two years ago, Cytokinetics sponsored its first ASCB Special Interest Subgroup on "The Cytoskeleton and Mechanisms of Disease.” Since then, the company has made rapid progress in bringing forward, both within oncology and cardiology, first-in-class drug candidates that leverage expertise in cytoskeletal pharmacology.
“We look forward to engaging with the cell biology community again for discussions on new cytoskeletal biologies that can potentially yield attractive drug candidates,” stated James Sabry, M.D., Ph.D., Cytokinetics’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “We feel privileged to interact with the world’s thought leaders in the field of cytoskeletal research to explore together these exciting new developments. Cytokinetics is pleased to organize and sponsor this second biennial meeting for the academic community.”
About Cytokinetics
Founded in 1998 and privately held, Cytokinetics is dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of a novel class of therapeutics resulting from its leadership position in the emerging field of cytoskeletal pharmacology. The cytoskeleton is a complex, dynamic framework that impacts all aspects of cell function including cell division, cell motility, intracellular transport, muscle contractility and regulation of cellular organization. Cytokinetics’ R&D efforts incorporate proprietary Cytometrix™ cellular phenotyping technologies and are focused on serving pharmaceutical needs in cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Cytokinetics and GlaxoSmithKline have entered into a broad strategic collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize novel small-molecule therapeutics targeting mitotic kinesins for applications in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Cytokinetics and GlaxoSmithKline have begun Phase I studies in the United States with the first anti-cancer drug candidate emerging from the collaboration. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.cytokinetics.com.
Special Interest Subgroup H at the ASCB Annual Meeting
Saturday, December 14, 2002
1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, Room 102
“Cytoskeletal Pharmacology and the Role of Cytoskeletal Proteins in Human Disease”
Moderator:
• Larry S.B. Goldstein, Ph.D.
Opening Remarks
University of California, San Diego
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Speakers and Topics:
• Anthony J. Wynshaw-Boris, M.D., Ph.D.
LIS1, Neuronal Migration and Dynein Motor Function Signaling and Neurodegeneration
University of California, San Diego,
School of Medicine
• William C. Mobley, M.D., Ph.D.
Traffic at the Intersection of Neurotrophic Factor Fragility Disorders
Stanford University,
School of Medicine
• E. Birgitte Lane, Ph.D., FRSE, FMedSci
The Role of Keratin Intermediate Filaments in Tissue
The University of Dundee,
School of Life Sciences
• Kenneth W. Wood, Ph.D.
Mitotic Kinesin Targeted Anti-Tumor Agents
Cytokinetics, Inc.
• Thomas D. Pollard, M.D.
New Methods to Study Actin Dynamics
Yale University,
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
• Louise Cramer, Ph.D.
Regulation of Cell Polarity During Cell Migration
University College London,
MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology
• Julie A. Theriot, Ph.D.
Functional Studies of Actin-Based Motility of Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens
Stanford University,
School of Medicine
• James H. Sabry, M.D., Ph.D.
Concluding Remarks
Cytokinetics, Inc.
• All Speakers Panel Discussion
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