Study Confirms Predictive Utility of Ibex Arthritis Biomarker Assays in Rheumatoid Arthritis
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(CCNMatthews - April 25, 2006) - IBEX Technologies Inc. (TSX:IBT - News)
Biomarkers of Cartilage Collagen Breakdown and Proteoglycan
Turnover are Related to Joint Destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis
IBEX Technologies Inc., an innovator in the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for the management of cancer and arthritis, today announced findings from a recently published rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical study that confirms the utility of the Company's serum biomarkers for measuring degradation and synthesis of cartilage.
The article, entitled "Radiographic joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with differences in cartilage turnover and can be predicted by serum biomarkers: an evaluation from 1 to 4 years after diagnosis" was authored by Dr. Suzan Verstappen et al. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands, and recently published on-line in the peer-reviewed journal, Arthritis Research and Therapy (8: R31, January 2006).
Dr. Verstappen commented, "This study shows that the concentration of serum biomarkers of cartilage collagen breakdown and proteoglycan turnover, but not of collagen synthesis, is related to joint destruction in RA. The use of these biomarkers may be of value when studying progression of joint damage in patients with RA."
Paul Baehr, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of IBEX added, "This is an important study because it confirms the utility of IBEX's arthritis biomarker assays for monitoring RA disease progression. IBEX is enjoying increasing sales to leading pharmaceutical companies for use in both animal and human studies."
The objective of this study was to determine whether certain serum biomarkers for degradation and synthesis of cartilage are associated with, and can predict, radiographic damage in patients with RA. The assays used in the study were the IBEX cartilage degradation biomarkers (C2C and C1, 2C) and cartilage synthesis biomarkers (CPII and CS846).
Study results showed that patients with rapid radiographic progression had higher C2C, C1, 2C and CS846 biomarker levels than slow progressors. C2C was also a predictor for joint space narrowing and annual radiographic damage during the subsequent year. Most importantly, long-term radiographic progression can be predicted by the C2C, C1, 2C, and CS846 biomarker values at year 1 after disease onset.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, RA is one of the more serious forms of arthritis and affects 2.1 million Americans. It is characterized by the inflammation of the synovium -- the membrane lining the joint -- which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. The inflamed synovium can invade and damage bone and cartilage, leading to deformities of the joint, loss of joint movement, and limitations of activities requiring use of the joint. The disease usually begins in middle age, but can start at any age, including childhood. RA affects two to three times more women than men.
About IBEX'S Arthritis Program
IBEX's osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis biomarker assays involve certain molecules found in blood that are by-products of collagen degradation and synthesis. IBEX's arthritis biomarker kits are currently being used by researchers, including many of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, to more effectively measure the efficacy of new arthritis treatments and to identify patients that are more likely to respond to potential therapies or that are more likely to develop progressive diseases.
Key validating data for the Company's arthritis assays was presented at the 2004 and 2005 American College of Rheumatology meeting by Centocor, marketers of the anti-TNF alpha anti-arthritic compound, Remicade®, regarding the levels of certain biomarkers in a subset of patients from the ASPIRE® study. The ASPIRE study is the largest trial ever in early Rheumatoid Arthritis. Results indicated that at least one of the IBEX biomarkers, C2C, tracked well with one of study's more important clinical endpoints.
About IBEX
IBEX is focused on the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for the management of cancer and arthritis. The Company's cancer program is based on a novel family of genes known as kallikreins. IBEX is developing kallikrein-based diagnostics for screening and monitoring cancer. Additionally, IBEX is exploring the role of kallikreins in metastatic disease for use as potential therapeutics. The Company's arthritis program is based on a series of biomarkers of cartilage degradation and synthesis.
IBEX markets a number of products, including its proprietary enzymes (heparinases and chrondroitinases), as well as a series of arthritis and kallikrein-based assays. Heparinase I IBEX is used in many leading hemostasis monitoring devices, while IBEX arthritis assays are used by leading pharmaceutical companies for research purposes. For more information, please visit the Company's web site at www.ibex.ca. |
