Proteins are necessary for the healthy functioning of all cells.
However, genetic flaws can lead to the formation of undesirable proteins that may contribute to diseases. Myriad is teaming up with computer-software giant Oracle Corp. and the global electronics and computing conglomerate Hitachi Ltd. to form a joint venture, Myriad Proteomics. The venture will be 50 percent owned by Myriad with the remaining interest split between Oracle, Hitachi and Friedli Corporate Finance, a longtime Swiss investor in the Salt Lake City-based biotechnology company. In contrast, it took 10 years for researchers to identify the 30,000 or so genes that make up the human genetic blueprint. Myriad and its partners stand a good chance to complete their mapping of the human proteome within the three-year time frame, said Carl Feldbaum, president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization in Washington.