GeneMaps

For each GWAS Genizon has completed, the Company has assembled a comprehensive map of interacting genes (GeneMaps) that has shed new light on biological pathways involved in the disease. Some pathways were already known or suspected to be involved in the disease, others are relevant to, but not known to predispose to the disease, and yet other pathways have been discovered to be entirely new predisposing factors. These discoveries are providing several opportunities in each disease to address new druggable targets.

An example of a GeneMap from a completed GWAS is presented below. The genes are anonymized for confidentiality reasons.

This Gene Map portrays a network of several biological pathways. Some of these pathways are known to be involved in schizophrenia (top right) while others represent pathways that have not been previously linked to the disease. The GeneMap also includes pathways that are consistent with the mode of action of several drugs currently marketed or in development, thus providing an immediate opportunity for a targeted approach to test genes within the pathway as predictors of drug response. Genizon also has several schizophrenia discoveries that appear to be completely novel and are under further investigation to determine their role in the disease, before insertion in the GeneMap.