Focused Genetic Scans Offer Individuals a New Way to Better Understand their Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Common Cancers
Reykjavik, ICELAND, January 18, 2009 – Through deCODEme™, the world’s first first retail genome analysis service, deCODE genetics (Nasdaq:DCGN) today announced the launch of the first focused genetic scans for assessing personal risk of several major cardiovascular diseases and common cancers. deCODEme Cardio™, which detects genetic risk factors for heart attack, stroke and atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and several other conditions, is offered at an introductory price of $195. deCODEme Cancer measures genetic risk factors for prostate, lung, bladder, skin and colorectal cancers, as well as the common form of breast cancer, at an introductory price of $225. Both can be ordered as a bundle for $350. Detailed information on what the the scans measure and how to order can be found at www.decodeme.com/cardio and www.decodeme.com/cancer.
“The common diseases, including cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack and stroke, as well as the common forms of cancer in women and men, result from both genetic and environmental risk factors. We are all familiar with many of the environmental and lifestyle factors that impact our risk of these diseases, and we know that addressing these risk factors can lower our risk of disease. Building on our discoveries of inherited risk factors for these diseases, our goal is to help individuals understand the genetic side of the equation. This is empowering information, that may enable people, on their own or working with their doctors, to make more informed decisions to protect their health. In an age when we are encouraged to take more responsibility for our health, we believe that we should all be able to use understanding of our genome to do stay healthy. deCODEme™ opened the era of the personal genome scan, and deCODEme Cardio™ and deCODEme Cancer™ offer individuals who wish to better understand their risk of particular diseases a focused means of doing so,” said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
The scans – deCODEme Cardio™ and deCODEme Cancer™ – build on deCODE’s global leadership in the discovery of common variations in the sequence of the human genome conferring increased risk of common diseases. They combine the latest science and highest quality analysis as only deCODE can. The scans are based on assays custom designed by deCODE scientists to detect the single-letter genetic variations (called SNPs) with the biggest impact on disease risk. These are SNPs validated in large-scale studies by deCODE as well as leading academic research institutions. DNA Analysis is conducted in deCODE’s own CLIA-registered laboratory, one of the largest genotyping facilities in the world. Subscribers have access to genetic counseling. Many deCODE customers have already employed the results of deCODEme and the company’s range of DNA-based risk assessment tests to improve and protect their health. Stories of how deCODE’s products are helping individuals and their physicians to take more control of their health can be found on our blog, at www.deCODEyou.com.
deCODEme Cardio™ measures 8 SNPs associated with the risk of heart attack, intracranical and abdominal aortic aneurysm, stroke and atrial fibrillation, peripherial arterial disease (PAD) and venous thromboempolism. deCODEme Cancer™ measures 29 SNPs associated with risk of prostate, lung, bladder and colorectal cancers, as well as basal cell carcinoma and the common form of breast cancer. Based upon which versions of these SNPs they carry, subscribers will receive a secure online profile presenting their results. Results are presented both in terms of relative risk compared to the general population, as well as absolute lifetime risk, which is the percentage likelihood that an individual will develop a disease in their lifetime, which is their relative risk multiplied by the average lifetime risk in the population.
The results also explain what other risk factors interact with genetic risk to increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a given diseaese, as well as how subscribers may wish to follow up with their doctor to optimize the prevention or early detection of these diseases. deCODEme offers genetic counseling to all its subscribers, and deCODE counselors can be consulted via email or by telephone.
About deCODE
deCODE is a bio-pharmaceutical company developing drugs and DNA-based tests to improve the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of common diseases. Its lead therapeutic programs, which leverage the company’s expertise in chemistry and structural biology, include DG041, an antiplatelet compound being developed for the prevention of arterial thrombosis; DG051 and DG031, compounds targeting the leukotriene pathway for the prevention of heart attack; and DG071 and a platform for other PDE4 modulators with therapeutic applications in Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. deCODE is a global leader in human genetics, and has identified key variations in the genome (SNPs) conferring increased risk of major public health challenges from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Based upon these discoveries deCODE has brought to market a growing range of DNA-based tests for gauging risk and empowering prevention of common diseases. Through its CLIA-registered laboratory, deCODE is offers 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. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.SM Visit us on the web at www.decode.com; on our diagnostics site at www.decodediagnostics.com; for our pioneering personal genome analysis service and new focused disease scans, integrating the genetic variants included in these tests and those linked to another twenty common diseases, as well as for our new deCODEme Cardio™ and deCODEme Cancer™, at www.decodeme.com; and on our blog at www.decodeyou.com.
Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, and the timing of events, to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those relating to our ability to obtain financing and to form collaborative relationships, the effect of a potential delisting of our common stock from The Nasdaq Global Market, uncertainty regarding potential future deterioration in the market for auction rate securities which could negatively affect our cash position and result in additional permanent impairment charges, our ability to develop and market diagnostic products, the level of third party reimbursement for our products, risks related to preclinical and clinical development of pharmaceutical products, including the identification of compounds and the completion of clinical trials, the effect of government regulation and the regulatory approval processes, market acceptance, our ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights for our products, dependence on collaborative relationships, the effect of competitive products, industry trends and other risks identified in deCODE’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the risk factors identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. deCODE undertakes no obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.