CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 2003--VARIAGENICS, INC. (Nasdaq: VGNX - News), an emerging molecular diagnostics company and leader in pharmacogenomics, today announced that it has granted worldwide licenses to GeneOhm Sciences, Sciona, and Tm Bioscience relating to VARIAGENICS' MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) patent rights. Under the terms of the agreements, VARIAGENICS has granted the companies worldwide non-exclusive rights to commercialize several test formats to detect polymorphisms within the MTHFR gene for applications including the assessment of thrombo-embolic disease risk. The agreements stipulate that VARIAGENICS retains the rights to the development of pharmacogenomic applications in oncology and other disease areas.
All three companies recognize the value of MTHFR genotyping for preventive medicine and for assuring optimal individual patient care, and expect significant growth in individual genetic testing within the cardiovascular field. "This license is an important step for us in building a strong molecular diagnostic portfolio and providing key tools for true personalized medicine," said Peter Klemm, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of GeneOhm Sciences. "We are excited about the prospect of providing patients with low cost, rapid response tests having extremely high specificity in predicting individual risk for predisposition to thrombo-embolic events. Early assessment of risk factors like MTHFR can improve therapy for many patients with deep vein thrombosis, patients making pre-surgery decisions, and those at risk during pregnancy, assuring optimal patient care."
"The MTHFR gene is one of the core elements of our Nutrigenomic and Genetic Diagnostic panels," said Dr. Anthony Leung, Sciona's Commercial Director. "Research indicates that individuals appreciate knowing their genetic status and its nutritional implications and that they understand the significance of the well-established links between metabolism, disease and wellbeing. We are excited about the potential these panels will have in personalized medicine and expect to see tremendous growth in demand as the potential benefits for preventive health are recognized."
"In developing the Tm Bioscience Tag-It(TM) Mutation Detection kit for common coagulation mutations, many of our customers requested the ability to test for the two common mutations in the MTHFR gene as part of the coagulation panel," said Greg Hines, President and CEO of Tm Bioscience. "This in-licensing agreement, allows us to provide commercial diagnostic laboratories with this tailor-made option within our existing coagulation kit." ... |
