Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has entered into an agreement with Organon, the human healthcare business unit of Akzo Nobel, under which the companies will apply Genaissance's HAP Technology for pharmacogenetic research in clinical trials, looking at modulation of the HPA stress axis for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Under the terms of the agreement, Genaissance will receive license and research funding fees from Organon, including fees for genotyping clinical samples. In addition, Genaissance has certain rights for the development and commercialization of companion genetic tests. Organon and Genaissance are both eligible to receive royalties on revenues generated from diagnostic products resulting from the collaboration. In addition, Genaissance provides Organon with GLP-compliant DNA isolation and banking services for its clinical trials.

Pharmacogenetic research is based on the fact that there are large interindividual differences in the response to drugs, be it therapeutic efficacy or unwanted side effects. The goal of the collaboration is to discover genetic markers related to these interindividual differences in drug response to validate these genetic markers and to create a companion diagnostic test that will guide therapy.

Kevin Rakin, president and CEO of Genaissance Pharmaceuticals said, "We believe this agreement is an indication of the role and importance pharmacogenomics can play in improving the success rate of clinical trials and bringing innovative drugs to the market."