The Michael J. Fox Foundation Funds DiaGenic's Development of First Parkinson's Blood Test

Collaboration with Dr. Clemens Scherzer of Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard Medical School)

Published: Dec 20, 2007 02:45 AM
Modified: Dec 20, 2007 02:45 AM
http://www.newsobserver.com/1566/story/840424.html

OSLO, Norway - DiaGenic ASA today announced that The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) is funding a DiaGenic study with Dr. Clemens R. Scherzer, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, to develop the first blood test for Parkinson's disease: a gene expression signature for the early detection of PD. This involves the identification and independent validation of a unique gene expression signature for Parkinson's using peripheral blood. Over the last three years, Dr. Scherzer and colleagues have established the Harvard PD Biomarker Study, funded by MJFF, a unique study designed for discovery and validation of blood tests for Parkinson's disease. Since blood samples have already been collected, we can immediately start on the analytical and bioinformatics studies. This will ensure the rapid development of a prototype blood test followed by an approved diagnostic test for early detection of Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Scherzer commented: "We are excited to collaborate with DiaGenic and MJFF to continue optimizing early detection of Parkinson's disease. We have recently published an extensive gene expression study on Parkinson's using blood as the clinical sample and are optimistic that the use of peripheral gene expression will prove valuable for the early detection of neurological disorders.

DiaGenic CEO Erik Christiansen commented: "We are grateful for the funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation and delighted to collaborate with Dr. Scherzer and his team. We regard this as a further international recognition of our concept for diagnosis of PD and neurodegenerative disorders. The study will be based on promising results from our pilot study on Parkinson's disease, presented at the IPA meeting in Portugal on May 5, 2006, and with leads identified by Dr. Scherzer's team."

Support from MJFF will secure the initial funding of the project, which involves analyzing samples from the Harvard PD Biomarker Study U.S. cohort to find a common gene expression signature. This signature is then incorporated into a test on a standard platform, combined with DiaGenic's proprietary analysis software. Parkinson's will now form the third disease in the portfolio, together with Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over age 65. While the average age at onset is 65, disease onset starts by age 40 in an estimated five to 10 percent of patients, and people as young as 30 can also be affected. Estimates of the number of people living with the disease therefore vary, but recent research indicates that at least one million people in the United States, and five million worldwide, have Parkinson's. Currently no blood or laboratory tests have been proven to help in diagnosing sporadic PD. Diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination, making accurate diagnosis difficult. Doctors sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests to rule out other diseases.

See also press release from Michael J Fox Foundation at www.michaeljfox.org

About DiaGenic ASA

DiaGenic is an innovative Norwegian biotechnology company that seeks to create value for patients, partners, and investors by developing new and more patient friendly methods for early detection of diseases. DiaGenic is currently a world leader in analyzing gene expression signatures related to disease in easily available clinical samples such as peripheral blood. This unique method is based on the principle that even when a disease is localized at a specific part of the body, secondary responses, which are also characteristic of the disease, can be measured in other parts. Significant potential in numerous diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease has been identified. The company has been granted patents in the U.S. and Europe. DiaGenic is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. For more information visit www.diagenic.com