Transgenomic Obtains Exclusive License to Mitochondrial DNA Damage Detection Technology
(OTC Bulletin Board: TBIO) today announced that the Clayton Foundation for
Research of
Research Development Foundation, has granted the Company an exclusive license
to patents covering a method for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage detection.
The patents form the basis for the development of diagnostic tests in
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, degenerative diseases of aging, cancer, and
other diseases, by measuring increased oxidative damage within mitochondria.
Mitochondria are organelles that produce the energy required for cells to
function normally. As the “power plants” of the cell, they are highly
sensitive to oxidative damage, which reduces energy production. Epidemiologic
and biologic studies suggest that oxidative stress is a risk factor for
cardiovascular death, but the absence of an accepted measure has limited the
ability to determine whether reducing oxidative stress will reduce
cardiovascular risk. The licensed technology utilizes a quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measurement of mtDNA damage, and is a
sensitive and specific indicator of oxidative stress.
The method was invented by researchers at the
laboratory of Dr.
they demonstrated that mtDNA damage in blood cells occurs early in
atherosclerosis, that aortic mtDNA damage increases with age, and that genetic
background and diet both can influence the level of damage. Preliminary
studies suggest that the level of mtDNA damage also correlates with a
near-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Hence, measurement of
mtDNA damage may be useful for predicting coronary atherosclerotic heart
disease.
Dr.
Pittsburgh
damage and repair in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. His laboratory has
also shown that mtDNA damage develops in the brains of older mice and in a
chemical model of Parkinson’s disease. “We have demonstrated that reactive
oxygen species cause significantly more mitochondrial DNA damage than nuclear
damage in cells from human to yeast, and I am enthusiastic about moving this
exciting assay from the bench to the bedside,” he said.
Dr. Runge, who is now chair of the Department of Medicine at the
value of a test for mtDNA damage developed for broad clinical application. He
commented, “In collaboration with Transgenomic we will be able to pursue
studies of large populations of individuals at risk of cardiovascular
diseases, and determine the utility of this measure in patients who may
benefit from therapies to reduce oxidative stress.”
a license with the Clayton Foundation to develop this technology, which it has
supported for many years. The license complements Transgenomic’s mtDNA
mutation analysis capabilities, and demonstrates continued strategic
commitment to the rapidly growing area of mitochondrial analysis for
pharmacogenomic research and clinical applications.”
About Mitochondrial DNA Tests from Transgenomic
Mitochondria are organelles that produce the energy required for cells to
function normally. There are hundreds of mitochondria in each cell, and
within each mitochondrion are approximately 5 to 10 circular mtDNA molecules.
These are maternally inherited, distinct from nuclear DNA, and encode a small
number of mitochondrial genes, including elements of the oxidative
phosphorylation (OX-PHOS) machinery that manufactures ATP, the biochemical
energy currency. That same machinery can generate toxic by-products –
“oxygen free radicals” — that can chemically damage surrounding molecules,
including mtDNA. Damaged mtDNA causes the production of faulty or decreased
OX-PHOS machinery, which then can increase the generation of oxygen free
radicals, and so a vicious cycle is triggered that ultimately leads to a
reduced energy supply ATP. The amount of damaged mtDNA thus is an inverse
measure of cellular health: the less damage the healthier and the more damage
the less healthy a cell is.
Transgenomic has specialized in the molecular diagnostics of mitochondrial
disorders including whole mitochondrial genome sequence and pathogenic point
mutation analysis, as well as assessment of nuclear genes associated with
mitochondrial function, such as DNA polymerase gamma (POLG). In addition to
the mtDNA damage assay, Transgenomic is developing other tests to assess mtDNA
copy number and deletion.
About Transgenomic
Transgenomic is a global biotechnology company that provides unique
products and services of automated high sensitivity genetic variation and
mutation analysis. Their offerings include systems, products, discovery and
laboratory testing services to the academic and medical research, clinical
laboratory and pharmaceutical markets in the fields of Pharmacogenomics and
personalized medicine. Specific offerings include WAVE(R) DHPLC Systems,
related consumables and assay kits, Cytogenetics automated systems, and
Transgenomic Pharmacogenomics and Reference Laboratory Services. Transgenomic
Pharmacogenomics and Laboratory Services utilize their technology and
expertise to provide a menu of mutation scanning tests for over 700
cancer-associated genes and more than 60 validated diagnostic tests to meet
the needs of pharmaceutical and biotech companies, research and clinical
laboratories, physicians and patients. For more information about the
innovative systems, products and services offered by Transgenomic, please
visit: http://www.transgenomic.com.
About the Clayton Foundation
The Clayton Foundation for Research is a
medical research organization founded in 1933 by
Clayton Foundation and its supporting entities have more than thirty medical
research projects at eleven institutions, and the Foundation has the rights to
the intellectual property arising from these projects. Several cutting-edge
biomedical technologies discovered by the Clayton Foundation have been
successfully commercialized through the creation of start-up companies and
out-licensing.
About the
The
leading medical schools, renowned for its curriculum that emphasizes both the
science and humanity of medicine and its remarkable growth in National
Institutes of Health grant support, which has more than doubled since 1998.
The School of Medicine is the academic partner to the
Medical Center. Their combined mission is to train tomorrow’s health care
specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that
will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease and
participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. The
Pittsburgh
It is the only cancer center in western
serves the region’s population of more than six million. Presently, UPCI
receives a total of
funding from NCI.
Dr.
the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and is Leader of the
Program in Molecular and Cell Biology UPCI.
About UNC Health Care and the
Medicine
The UNC Health Care System is a not-for-profit integrated health care
system owned by the state of
exists to further the teaching mission of the
to provide state-of-the-art patient care. UNC Health Care is comprised of UNC
Hospitals, which is ranked among the top 50 in the nation in six specialties
by U.S. News & World Report and ranked one of the country’s 41 best on the
Leapfrog 2007 Top Hospitals list; the UNC School of Medicine, a nationally
eminent research institution; community practices; home health and hospice
services in seven central
provider network in
Dr. Runge is president of UNC Physicians and Associates for UNC Health
Care in addition to being chair of the Department of Medicine at the
Transgenomic Cautionary Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking
statements” of Transgenomic within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, those with respect to management’s current views and
estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company
performance and financial results, including the ability of the Company to
grow its involvement in the diagnostic products and services markets. The
known risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting these forward-looking
statements are described from time to time in Transgenomic’s reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Any change in such factors, risks and
uncertainties may cause the actual results, events and performance to differ
materially from those referred to in such statements. Accordingly, the company
claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements
contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect
to all statements contained in this press release. All information in this
press release is as of the date of the release and Transgenomic does not
undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking
statements, unless required by law.
SOURCE Transgenomic