He adds, though, that Immunex counts on Celera's promise to add fresh information as it sequences more genomes and proteins. Indeed, one of Celera's next big projects is to sequence the dog genome. While competitors such as Incyte Genomics and Human Genome Sciences offer similar subscription services, none provides the depth of Celera's data and data-manipulation tools. Debate lingers over whether this model alone can sustain a business. Celera is still in the red.
Gibbons insists, though, that the company's database subscription arrangement is viable.
Meanwhile, Celera has begun to develop other revenue sources. It has created a complementary business identifying specific proteins as therapeutic targets for drug companies. And it plans to set up a drug-discovery arm, either independently or in partnership with a pharmaceutical company. The business model is constantly evolving. Related Articles Loren Fox Loren Fox is a senior editor in the New York office of Business 2.0.