>>MADISON, Wis., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Third Wave Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: TWTI - news) today announced that it has launched four new Invader® DNA analyte-specific reagents (ASRs) for clinical use.
New Invader® DNA reagents are now available for the following analytes:
ApoE (C112R)
ApoE (R158C)
GPIIIa (PLA1/A2)
GPIa (C807T)
Invader® DNA reagents allow simple, fast and highly accurate genotyping directly from genomic DNA using Third Wave's proven InvaderTM product platform. Third Wave's new ASRs feature the unique biplex format, which allows for the simultaneous detection of all variations for each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). For example, the presence of the three possible genotypes for the GPla C807T polymorphism -- CC, CT or TT -- can be determined in a single well. Third Wave's biplex format also improves testing productivity and throughput because fewer pipetting steps are required.
``Third Wave's launch of four new Invader® DNA reagents expands the company's clinical product menu to the large and rapidly growing market for genetic analysis of cardiovascular risk factors,'' said Lance Fors, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Third Wave. ``The new Invader® DNA reagents demonstrate the success of Third Wave's ongoing commercialization activities, which are leveraging the cost and performance advantages of our Invader(TM) product platform to accelerate the delivery of personalized medicine.''
The new reagents, which the company began to market in December, bring to nine the number of clinical products Third Wave brought to market in 2001.
The Apolipoprotein E gene plays a critical role in the metabolism and transport of cholesterol and other blood fats, among other activities. The combinations of the ApoE (C112R) and (R158C) polymorphisms have been associated with increased risk of elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The Glycoprotein IIIa and Ia genes are platelet factors that are involved in blood coagulation. Polymorphisms in both genes have been associated with increased risk of coronary blood clots, atherosclerosis and heart attack.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women among all racial and ethnic groups. More than 960,000 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each year, accounting for more than 40 percent of all deaths. About 58 million Americans -- almost one-fourth of the nation's population -- live with some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control.<<
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