Reykjavik, ICELAND, January 21, 2010 – deCODE genetics ehf today emerged as a newly financed, private company focused on advancing the science of human genetics and its application to products and services that improve human health. The new company will be building on the scientific leadership in genetics it developed over more than a decade as a subsidiary of deCODE genetics, Inc. deCODE ehf was this week purchased from its former parent company by Saga Investments LLC, a consortium that includes Polaris Ventures and ARCH Venture Partners, two leading life science investors. deCODE will continue all of its operations and product lines in this field, including its deCODE diagnostics disease risk tests; deCODEme™ personal genome scans; and contract service offerings including genotyping, sequencing and data analysis. Going forward, deCODE will concentrate on translating its science into medically and commercially important products and services. The company will be led by a two-man executive committee comprised of Earl “Duke” Collier, previously an executive vice president at Genzyme Corp.,who will serve as CEO, and Kari Stefansson, who will serve as executive chairman and president of research.
deCODE operates the most productive human gene discovery engine in the world. It is driven by genetic and medical data from 500,000 participants from around the globe taking part in its gene discovery work; comprehensive genealogies linking the 140,000 Icelandic participants; a major CLIA- and CAP-certified genotyping and sequencing facility; and statistical and informatics tools for mining large datasets, for maximizing the information derived from genotyping and sequencing data, and for visualizing genetic and disease data in research, in the clinic, and for subscribers to its genome scans.
“deCODE has led the world in discovering variants in the sequence of the human genome that affect the risk of common diseases. Our resources and expertise have also enabled us to develop the leading analytical tools in the field, and we are putting all of this to work to provide unique value for patients, physicians and researchers. As we enter the era of sequencing entire genomes, we believe our ability to make sense of ever larger amounts of data will continue to keep us in the lead in discovery. And with our now solid financial backing and the splendid addition of Duke Collier to our management, we will be taking a lead in the translation of our science into powerful products and services.” said Kari Stefansson.
“I am pleased to be joining Kari and the outstanding scientific team at deCODE,” said Duke Collier. “deCODE combines world class science devoted to human genetics, unmatched access to genetic data, and a powerful set of tools for managing and analyzing this data. SNP genotyping, and now genomic sequencing, is taking human genetics into an ever expanding world of research, discovery and translation. With its scientific skill and industrial scale analytical capacity, deCODE will be an invaluable partner to investigators, labs and companies working at the highest levels of sophistication in this exciting field. I am thrilled by the challenge and the opportunity.”
About deCODE
Headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, deCODE is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Using its unique expertise and population resources, deCODE has discovered key genetic risk factors for dozens of common diseases ranging from cardiovascular disease to cancer. deCODE employs its capabilities to develop DNA-based tests and personal genome scans to better understand individual risk and empower prevention. It also licenses its tests, intellectual property and analytical tools to partners, and provides comprehensive genotyping, sequencing and data analysis services to companies and research institutions around the globe. Through its CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratory deCODE offers DNA-based tests for gauging risk and empowering prevention of common diseases, including deCODE T2™ for type 2 diabetes; deCODE AF™ for atrial fibrillation and stroke; deCODE MI™ for heart attack; deCODE ProstateCancer™ for prostate cancer; deCODE Glaucoma™ for a major type of glaucoma; and deCODE BreastCancer, for the common forms of breast cancer. Through its pioneering personal genome analysis service deCODEme™, deCODE enables individuals to better understand their risk of dozens of common diseases and to learn about their ancestry and other traits. Visit us on the web at www.decode.com; at www.decodediagnostics.com; at www.decodeme.com; and on our blog at www.decodeyou.com.
deCODE genetics is a private company headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland. It is owned by Saga Investments LLC, an investment consortium including Polaris Venture Partners and ARCH Venture Partners.