A drug discovery company could create 40 new jobs in Oxfordshire over the next year following the opening of its 6m new head office and factory, wrties Maggie Hartford.

Oxford GlycoSciences says it now has the world's leading "proteomics data factory" at Milton Park, near Abingdon, which can analyse the molecular structure of 2,000 samples a week from patients with illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, infections and inflammatory diseases.

While researchers else- where are mapping the human genome, Oxford GlycoSciences is delving deeper into the proteins made by genes. Since most drugs are made from proteins, drug companies are eager to use the information to develop new treatments.

Chairman G. Kirk Raab said: "The opportunity today from mapping the human genome and using proteomics to provide critical disease targets to design chemicals or develop proteins is revolutionising our ability to rapidly develop extraordinary new drugs to lengthen and improve our quality of life."

OGS, which has collaborations with Pfizer, Merck, Bayer and Pioneer HI-Bred/DuPont, is to seek a listing on the US technology-dominated Nasdaq stock exchange.

It has clinched an agreement with PE Biosystems for early use of its new mass spectrometry equipment for chemical analysis. And it has also agreed an alliance with Packard BioScience to develop protein biochips, which combine organic molecules and cells with micro- electronics.

Chief executive Michael Kranda said the workforce was likely to rise from 160 to 200, following the move to the purpose-built plant at Milton Park.

The company will keep its two buildings at Abingdon Science Park, but Mr Kranda said staff were pleased to move from the stacked portable buildings where they had previously been working. "People are delighted at the new building there was a lot of hot-desking going on," he said.