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Interleukin Genetics Initiates Study of IL-1 Gene Variation and Osteoporosis in Korean Women

Posted on: Thursday, 7 September 2006, 09:20 CDT

Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (AMEX:ILI) announced today that it has initiated a study in collaboration with Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea to explore the potential link between interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene variations and spine (vertebral) fractures in postmenopausal Korean women.

"This study in postmenopausal Korean women will augment the data we already have in Caucasian women that show the importance of IL-1 genetic variations as a risk factor for vertebral fractures," said Ken Kornman, DDS, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Interleukin Genetics. "Our objective is to leverage our scientific leadership to help identify potential health risks before serious disease-related events occur. For osteoporotic individuals in particular, we believe that our core expertise in interleukin science could play an important role in predicting the likelihood of fracture."

"Yonsei University's research with Interleukin Genetics is expected to provide valuable insight into population-specific genetic variables that could support development of new tests to assess the predisposition to osteoporosis in postmenopausal Korean women," stated Professor Jong Ho Lee, Department of Food & Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University. "This study gives us an opportunity to understand the unique genetic factors in Korean women that contribute to vertebral fracture risk, and may provide a useful tool in determining appropriate preventive therapies."

About the Study

Interleukin Genetics is investigating the role of genetics in determining individual risk for osteoporosis and related fractures in specific populations. Variations in the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene family have been shown to be associated with fracture risk in postmenopausal Caucasian women, and the company is now collaborating with Yonsei University to study possible genetic links to vertebral fracture in postmenopausal Korean women using its proprietary IL-1 technology.

Key objectives of this 1,200 patient study include testing the hypothesis that, in postmenopausal Korean women who are not on hormone replacement therapy, common variations in IL-1 genes are associated with risk of vertebral fractures, as well as low bone mineral density (BMD) and/or elevated markers of bone metabolism. In addition, the researchers will evaluate whether other genes known to regulate bone metabolism influence risk of osteoporosis in Korean women, either independent of, or in conjunction with the IL-1 genetic variations.

Co-principle investigators in the study include Dr. Yangsoo Jang, Director, Yonsei University Research Institute of Science for Aging (YURISA) and Cardiovascular Genomics Center, Professor, Department of Cardiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University Severance Hospital, and Professor Jong Ho Lee, Department of Food & Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University. Dr. Eun Jig Lee, Professor, Department of Endocrinology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University Severance Hospital is participating in this study as an investigator.

Osteoporosis and Vertebral Fracture

Osteoporosis has been referred to as a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms, and for many people, the first indication that they have the disease is when a fracture occurs. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 75 million people in the United States, Europe and Japan have osteoporosis, a number that is expected to double in the next 50 years. It is further estimated that another 225 million individuals have low bone mass, or osteopenia. Globally, the greatest increase in osteoporosis is projected to be in Asia and in Latin America. The disease affects both men and women over 50 years of age and of all ethnic backgrounds, although in the U.S. women represent 80% of the disease population with prevalence greatest among non-Hispanic white and Asian women.

Vertebral, or spine fractures, often occur without any symptoms and only become evident when the individual notices a loss of height, develops the "dowager's hump" appearance, or starts to experience pain resulting from compression of vertebrae. It is well established that osteoporosis significantly increases the risk of vertebral, hip, wrist and other fractures - over 1.5 million fractures in the U.S. annually - with 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over 50 suffering an osteoporosis-related fracture during her/his lifetime. In 2002, costs directly associated with osteoporosis-related hip fractures were estimated to be $18 billion.

About Interleukin

Interleukin Genetics is a biotechnology company focused on developing, acquiring, and commercializing personalized health products. The company uses functional genomics to help in the development of risk assessment tests, pharmacogenetic tests, nutritional and therapeutic products based on the genetic variations in people. Interleukin Genetics has commercialized genetic tests for periodontal disease risk assessment, cardiovascular risk assessment, and general nutrition assessment. In addition, through its the Alan James Group subsidiary, the company sells its nutraceutical brands, including Ginkoba(TM), Ginsana(TM), and Venastat(TM) through the nation's largest food, drug and mass retailers. Interleukin's current development programs focus on osteoporosis and weight management genetic risk assessment tests, as well as its new proprietary OTCeutical(TM) products for distribution through the Alan James Group. Interleukin expects that these programs will also lead to the personalized selection of nutritional and therapeutic products, and provide consumers and healthcare professionals with better preventative product alternatives. For more information about Interleukin and its ongoing programs, please visit http://www.ilgenetics.com.

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements including statements regarding our ability to develop diagnostic, personalized nutritional and therapeutic products to prevent or treat diseases of inflammation and other genetic variations, our ability to screen nutritional compounds for their effects on inflammatory responses and other genetic variations, given specific genetic patterns and our ability to make progress in advancing our core technologies. Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risk of market acceptance of our products, the risk of technology and product obsolescence, delays in product development, the performance of our commercial partners, the availability of adequate capital, the actions of our competitors and other competitive risks, and those risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation or intention to update these forward-looking statements.

Source: Business Wire

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