CHATSWORTH, Calif., April 3, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- International Remote Imaging Systems, Inc. (AMEX:IRI), a manufacturer and marketer of automated IVD urinalysis systems and medical devices used in hospitals and reference clinical laboratories worldwide, today announced that its Advanced Digital Imaging Research, LLC (ADIR) subsidiary has been awarded a $691,519 Phase 2 Small Business Innovative Research Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The project, entitled "Semi-Automated Prenatal Screening Using Maternal Blood," seeks to develop an image analysis instrument that automatically detects the most common genetic abnormalities by looking only at a sample of the expectant mother's blood. This innovation would greatly reduce the cost and discomfort of prenatal screening for birth defects.
Detecting fetal cells in the mother's blood eliminates the risks associated with the commonly used amniocentesis (abdominal puncture) procedure. Furthermore, the use of DNA probes reduces the time and cost of diagnosis, allowing this type of testing to be extended routinely to virtually all pregnancies.
"An inexpensive and minimally invasive prenatal diagnostic for genetic disease would be a great benefit," stated Dr. Kenneth Castleman, President of ADIR. "This project will allow us to contribute to that development."
Dr. Kshitij Mohan, President and Chief Executive Officer of International Remote Imaging Systems, Inc. said, "The prenatal diagnostic techniques being developed by ADIR complement the work being done in our other business units. This represents another potential opportunity to use our scientific and technical expertise to pursue exciting new technologies and products. We are very pleased that the NIH has seen fit to support this important work."
The grant award provides for a two-year study to be carried out in collaboration with Dr. Farideh Bischoff and her colleagues at the Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Fatima Merchant of ADIR is the Principal Investigator on the project.
The goal of this project is to develop an image analyzing system that automatically detects the five most commonly occurring genetic abnormalities in fetal cells that have been obtained from a small sample of the expectant mother's blood. Abnormalities in chromosomes number 13, 18, 21, X, and Y show up in approximately 2% of all prenatal diagnostic tests that are done in cases of "advanced maternal age," and they account for the vast majority of abnormal births. ADIR plans to build and test a system that automatically locates fetal cells in the mother's blood and checks them for chromosome abnormalities. The results will be directly useful in assessing the status of the unborn child so that the delivery and post-natal care can be better managed.
THE COMPANY
International Remote Imaging Systems, Inc. has an established reputation as a leader in automated urinalysis technology and image flow cytometry. The Company's Iris Diagnostics Division is a leader in automated urinalysis technology with workstations in major medical institutions throughout the world. Using a patented Automated Intelligent Microscopy (AIM) technology and Auto Analyte Recognition software (AAR), a significant reduction in the cost and time consuming steps for manual microscopic analysis can be achieved.
The StatSpin(r) subsidiary, based in Norwood, Mass., is a worldwide leader in accelerated sample preparation for blood, body fluids and urine analysis. The subsidiary makes innovative centrifuges and blood analysis products, including the world's fastest blood separator (30 seconds). StatSpin's worldwide markets include medical institutions, commercial laboratories, clinics, doctors' offices, veterinary labs and research facilities. Its bench top centrifuges are dedicated to applications for manual specimen preparation for coagulation, cytology, hematology, and urinalysis.
Advanced Digital Imaging Research, LLC, is a research and development subsidiary based in the Houston, Texas area. ADIR assists in the advancement of proprietary imaging technology while conducting government-sponsored research and development in medical imaging and software, and contract research for corporate clients.
SAFE HARBOR PROVISION
This news release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's views on future commercial revenues, market growth, capital requirements, new product introductions, and are generally identified by phrases such as "thinks," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," and similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statement. These statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including management's own knowledge and assessment of the Company's industry, competition and capital requirements. Other factors and uncertainties that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: unexpected technical and marketing difficulties inherent in major product development efforts such as the current project to improve the Company's urinalysis workstation product line; the potential need for changes in long-term strategy in response to future developments; future advances in diagnostic testing methods and procedures, as well as potential changes in government regulations and healthcare policies, both of which could adversely affect the economics of the diagnostic testing procedures automated by the Company's products; rapid technological change in the microelectronics and software industries; and increasing competition from imaging and non-imaging based in-vitro diagnostic products. The Company refers interested persons to its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC filings for a description of additional uncertainties and factors that may affect forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements.