UPPSALA, Sweden and GENEVA, Switzerland, May 7, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Based on the success of their collaboration to develop a rapid DNA-based diagnostic for Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), Pyrosequencing AB (Stockholm:PYROA) and the University of Geneva today announced the expansion of their agreement to include other syndromes screened during routine prenatal testing. The agreement comprises genetic analysis and diagnostic development using Pyrosequencingtm technology.
"Pyrosequencing technology has already proven to be a powerful tool for rapidly detecting Trisomy 21, enabling us to quickly develop a diagnostic test for Down Syndrome," said Stylianos Antonarakis, M.D., D.Sc., Director of the Division of Medical Genetics at the University of Geneva and head of the research program. "Given our success to date, we believe Pyrosequencing technology also has the potential to detect other important trisomies," added Dr. Antonarakis. "Ultimately, our goal is to develop methods that will reduce waiting periods and false results associated with prenatal genetic tests."
In August 2001, Pyrosequencing's Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit and the University of Geneva initiated a research collaboration to develop rapid genetic tests for the diagnosis of Down Syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21. Using a DNA-based method for rapid genetic analysis developed at the University of Geneva, researchers optimized a test for Down Syndrome using Pyrosequencing technology. Scientific validation of the technology has been completed and clinical evaluation of the Trisomy 21 test involving hundreds of patient samples is underway. The newly expanded collaboration will include developing genetic tests for other trisomies, such as 18, 13, X and Y chromosomes.
"It is exciting when the success of initial research triggers a broader collaboration. In this case, it has enabled us to move forward quickly with the University of Geneva to develop additional prenatal diagnostics," said Jerry Williamson, Vice President, Head of the Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit at Pyrosequencing AB. "The expansion of our work will provide further validation of our technology in a diagnostic setting and a pathway to broader intellectual property. By demonstrating the benefits of Pyrosequencing technology over other methods, we hope to provide better prenatal diagnostic tools to physicians and improved genetic testing for their patients."
About trisomies and other syndromes A trisomy is an extra chromosome in the genome. The most common trisomies have been linked to specific disorders, the risk of which increases with maternal age. Diagnosis of these syndromes relies on technologies that facilitate counting of the chromosomes, such as fluorescence in situ hybidization (FISH). Although highly accurate, these methods are labor intensive and time consuming and often require several days of cell culture followed by the subjective judgment of highly skilled technicians.
Down Syndrome is the most prevalent trisomy. Also the most common cause of mental retardation, Down Syndrome affects one out of 700 live births in all ethnic groups. It is followed in prevalence by trisomy 18 (Edward's Syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau's Syndrome). Children with Edward's and Patau's Syndrome disorders are mentally retarded, with numerous anatomical defects and health problems that almost always prove fatal by the age of one.
The sex chromosomes X and Y have also been implicated in specific syndromes. Turner's Syndrome, the most common of these conditions, affects one in every 2,000 female babies and is the result of the absence of all or part of an X chromosome. Girls with Turner's Syndrome fail to grow to full stature and to mature sexually. They may also have learning disabilities, skeletal abnormalities, hearing loss, infertility and dysfunction of the liver, heart, thyroid or kidneys.
The University of Geneva
The University of Geneva (www.unige.ch) is Switzerland's second largest university and is dedicated to teaching, research and providing services to the city of Geneva. Since its foundation in 1559, it has been a scientific mainstay in many areas of research. In August 1998, the prestigious American journal Science pinpointed the Geneva-Lausanne area as the third most important research center in Europe, after Cambridge (UK) and Oxford-Reading. The University is very much aware of the importance of valorizing its research, and it recently set up Unitec, the Office for Transfer of Skills and Technologies.
The Division of Medical Genetics is part of both the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva and of the Geneva University Hospitals, and has three equally important missions: (i) to provide high quality genetic services to the population; (ii) to teach the students, health professionals, and the public the importance of genes in human disorders; and (iii) to conduct excellent, internationally competitive research on the involvement of genes in the development of disorders in individuals.
About Pyrosequencing AB
Pyrosequencing AB develops, manufactures and sells complete solutions for rapid applied genetic analysis based on its proprietary Pyrosequencingtm technology, a simple-to-use DNA sequencing technique. Pyrosequencing leads the global market in Applied Genomics with over 165 systems sold to major pharmaceutical and biotech companies and prestigious research institutions worldwide.
Pyrosequencing technology is broadly applicable for the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and for the identification and quantification of short DNA sequences used in bacterial and viral typing. The Company's Molecular Diagnostics Business is establishing collaborations with industry leaders to identify new product opportunities in disease diagnosis, clinical prognosis and pharmacogenomics.
The Company's products include the bench-top PSQtm96, PSQtm96MA and PSQtmHS 96A Systems and a high-throughput 384-well system available through a Preferred Technology Program (PTPtm), all of which utilize proprietary software and reagent kits. Among Pyrosequencing's customers are AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Schering-Plough, the NIH, the CDC, the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, Yale University, the Karolinska Institute, Biogen, Oxagen, NASA and DuPont Agriculture. The Company's Web address is www.pyrosequencing.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "intend," and "should," among others. These forward- looking statements are based on Pyrosequencing's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Pyrosequencing notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward- looking statements. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with management of growth and international operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations), variability of operating results, the commercial development of the DNA sequencing and genomics market, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics market, and genetic vaccination and gene therapy markets, competition, rapid or unexpected changes in technologies, fluctuations in demand for Pyrosequencing's products (including seasonal fluctuations), difficulties in successfully adapting the Company's products to integrated solutions and producing such products, and the Company's ability to identify and develop new products and to differentiate its products from competitors.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pyrosequencing AB Jerry Williamson VP & Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit Head jerry.williamson@pyrosequencing.com Phone: +1 877 797 6767 Theresa McNeely, Sr. Director Investor and Public Relations theresa.mcneely@pyrosequencing.com Phone: +1 877 797 6767
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