SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., March 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Admera Health (www.admerahealth.com), a commercial stage New Jersey based Precision Medicine and Digital Health company announced today the launch of AtheroGxOne™ following its approval by the New Jersey Department of Health. AtheroGxOne™ is a comprehensive Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based 84-gene panel aimed at identifying patients with a genetic signature for inherited premature coronary or atherosclerotic disease, such as Familial Hypercholesterolemia, as well as Mature Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY).

Alterations in the panel genes can affect the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates and lead to early atherosclerosis if left untreated. These diseases have a significant impact on cardiovascular risk since they appear at an early age and indicate a poor prognosis without aggressive medical intervention. In fact, approximately 5% and 20% of myocardial infarctions in individuals under 60 and 45 years of age, respectively, are due to alterations in the genes included in the panel.

Complementary Diagnostic Test for Familial Hypercholesterolemia

The AtheroGxOne^TM panel can detect familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic disorder affecting 1 in 500 people that is characterized by high cholesterol levels, specifically very high LDL (“bad cholesterol”). People with FH are less likely to respond to usual interventions such as dietary modification or statin use, but they may be eligible for a new generation of PCSK9 inhibitor drugs, such as Repatha^TM and Praluent^TM.

Developed as a joint venture between Admera Health and Health In Code (HIC), the test detects genomic variations associated with familial hypercholesterolemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, hypolipidemia and MODY. A comprehensive interpretive report is generated based on the integration of AtheroGxOne^TM results with genetic and clinical information from HIC’s proprietary knowledge base containing more than 85,000 individuals. Reviewed by expert cardiologists specialized in genetics, AtheroGxOne^TM results provide cardiologists with clear genetic interpretation for risk assessment and disease diagnosis.

Dr. Guanghui Hu, President and CEO of Admera Health noted, “The approval of our AtheroGxOne™ test demonstrates once again the company’s ability to coordinate our R&D efforts with the work of our external partners to rapidly develop a best-in-class product that meets important unmet clinical needs. This new product, together with our other cardiovascular portfolio products, will help our company successfully meet or exceed our financial goals for the new year.”

Zeil Rosenberg, M.D., Admera Health’s VP for Medical Affairs, stated, “AtheroGxOne^TM allows cardiologists to pinpoint genetic factors to help diagnose cholesterol and other lipid disorders, including Familial Hypercholesterolemia, at a much earlier phase of disease, opening up the potential for earlier medical intervention that can save lives. In addition, for endocrinologists, the panel provides genetic information for risk of Mature Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) where children otherwise diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes can be taken off insulin and managed medically, avoiding a lifetime of injection therapy and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Launch of the test marks a milestone in Admera Health’s portfolio expansion to meet the expressed needs of cardiologists to diagnose and to manage patients at-risk for inherited cardiovascular disease.”

The Admera Health Cardiovascular Test Portfolio

AtheroGxOne™ completes Admera Health’s unique Cardiovascular Test Portfolio, which includes CardioGxOne™ for inherited cardiac diseases and PGxCardio™ for pharmacogenomics testing. This comprehensive portfolio provides cardiologists with valuable information for risk assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of inherited cardiovascular diseases and conditions, including cardiomyopathies and sudden death, arrhythmias, lipid dysfunction and hypertension. Early risk assessment and diagnosis, as well as improved treatment decisions for cardiovascular diseases have a great potential to save lives and healthcare costs.

About Admera Health

Admera Health is an advanced molecular diagnostics company focused on personalized medicine, non-invasive cancer testing and digital health. Dedicated to developing cutting-edge diagnostics that span the continuum of care, Admera Health fulfills unmet medical needs with cost-effective tests and accurate analysis to guide patient care. Utilizing next generation technology platforms and advanced bioinformatics, Admera Health seeks to redefine disease screening, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and management through its innovative, personalized solutions. It is our mission to deliver transformative, valuable solutions for patients, physicians, and clinical researchers. We are committed to improving the health and well-being of our global community through the direct delivery of personalized, medically actionable results

About Health In Code

Health in Code Inc. is a technology-based company with 10 years of international experience in the genetic diagnosis of inherited cardiovascular diseases. The company focus includes the most comprehensive clinical interpretation of genetic results based on proprietary knowledge management systems and databases. The Health in Code multidisciplinary team consists of expert cardiologists, informatics engineers and molecular biologists.