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DNAPrint and The University of Miami Announce Pharmacogenomics Collaboration
Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers
SARASOTA, Fla. & MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 2000--DNAPrint
genomics, Inc. (Pink Sheets:DNAP) and the University of Miami
announced today that they will collaborate to discover and develop new
personalized medical products. The products produced through the
collaboration could be used in the near future to genetically match
cancer patients with optimal chemotherapy regimens.
Currently, cancer patients are treated with drugs whose efficacy
is known in terms of population averages. In reality, individual
cancer patients exhibit unpredictable and unique responses to
virtually all commonly used chemotherapeutic compounds. Since human
beings differ by only 0.1% of the bases that make up the human genetic
code, individual genetic differences have long been suspected to play
a role in this variable drug response. Due to the complex nature of
the genetics and environmental factors involved, however, relatively
little is currently known about the relationship between genes and
drug response. For cancer patients, decisions about treatment regimes
are often fateful and second chances at treatment are usually not
successful. A better understanding of the relationship between genes
and drug response could obviate the current trial and error process of
chemotherapy treatment, and guide physicians and patients toward the
most optimal treatments at the outset of therapy.
The collaboration announced today aims to qualify and quantify the
genetic and environmental determinants underlying variation of ovarian
cancer patient response to chemotherapy. The collaboration will
provide DNAPrint and University of Miami doctors and scientists the
unique opportunity to explore the connection between human genetic
variation (polymorphism), environment, and treatment response using a
rare combination of resources. These combined resources include
heavily annotated and consent-qualified specimen samples, prospective
patient tracking by world class oncologists, state-of-the-art
automated genomics equipment and proprietary analytics for complex
genetic analysis. Under the terms of the agreement the University of
Miami will supply consent qualified, biographed and annotated patient
specimens, prospective and retrospective patient disease and treatment
data and active participation from some of the world's leading
oncologists during the length of the project. DNAprint genomics will
perform the background variability discovery, high-throughput
genotyping and complex genetic analysis. Specific terms of the deal
were not disclosed.
Ovarian cancer is the number one cause of mortality from
gynecologic cancer in the United States. Approximately 27,000 new
cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year,
resulting in 15,000 deaths annually. Compared to other cancers such as
Breast cancer, a disproportionately small fraction of U.S. research
dollars is spent studying ovarian cancer.
"Few studies have addressed the role of polymorphism in variable
chemotherapeutic drug response, and we are excited to enter into a
relationship with a first class biomedical university such as the
University of Miami. Our work will potentially have immediate
implications for managing ovarian cancer and improving the lives of
ovarian cancer patients around the world," said Tony Frudakis, Ph.D.,
CEO and CSO of DNAPrint genomics. "Relationships such as these are key
to implementing the promise of genomics in bettering our lives. They
establish a framework within which the personalized medical products
of the future will be developed and eventually help guide physicians
toward the most effective chemotherapy treatment for a patient's
genetic make-up."
"This is an exciting time for the medical and scientific
community. With the announcement of the completion of the first draft
of the human genome, a whole new era of personalized medicine will be
explored," said Ramin Mirhashemi, M.D., Director and Research
Coordinator of The University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
Familial Ovarian and Breast Cancer Center. "I am very pleased to
announce our research collaboration with DNAPrint genomics, because
the treatment of ovarian cancer is often very frustrating for the
patients as well as the physicians taking care of these patients.
Studies like this will make it possible in the near future to
personalize the chemotherapeutic choices for patients based upon the
genomics of their tumors as well as the patient's own genetic makeup.
Dr. Jose Fernando Arena, who is the Translational Research Director of
the Center, has an extensive genetics background and will co-sponsor
and oversee the genetic aspects of this milestone study."
The University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital's Familial
Ovarian and Breast Cancer Center in conjunction with the Division of
Gynecologic Oncology treats over 300 women annually for ovarian
cancer. The Center is located at the newly remodeled Diagnostic
Treatment Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. This is a state of the
art inter-disciplinary treatment center with the latest diagnostic and
high technology treatment modalities. The funding for the center was
generously provided by the Public Health Trust.
DNAPrint genomics, Inc. is developing complex genetic analytic and
information resources for next generations personalized medicine. The
company's products will provide practitioners of genomic research and
personalized medicine with a comprehensive system for complex trait
dissection and patient classification. DNAPrint genomics Inc. was
founded by a group of scientists with research and commercial
experience in high-level mathematical modeling, programming and
molecular genetics. For more information about the company, please
visit www.DNAPrint.com . The company expects to be trading on the NASD
OTC Bulletin Board within the next few weeks.
All statements in this press release that are not historical are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act as amended. Such statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected, including, but not limited to,
uncertainties relating to technologies, product development,
manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of DNAPrint's
products, dependence on collaborations and partners, regulatory
approvals, competition, intellectual property of others, and patent
protection and litigation. DNAPrint genomics, Inc. expressly disclaims
any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in DNAPrint's expectations with regard thereto or
any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such
statements are based.
--30--jar/mi*
CONTACT: DNAPrint genomics, Inc., Sarasota
For Scientific inquiries:
Tony Frudakis, Ph.D., 941/351-4543
or
Office of Technology Transfer
University of Miami
Joy D. Cogan, Ph.D., 305/243-5689
or
Other inquiries
Richard Craig Hall, 941/341-0136
KEYWORD: FLORIDA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY MEDICAL SOFTWARE EDUCATION
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