|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Blood Tests for Neurodegenerative Disease to Enter
Test Market
Goal is early detection of Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
ALS and more
 March 28, 2005 In what may become a significant
step in the early detection of some of the diseases most feared by
senior citizens - Alzheimers, Parkinsons and ALS - two companies have
entered into an agreement for the development of antibody based
diagnostic tests for neurodegenerative disease using identified protein
biomarkers.
Power3 Medical Products, Inc. says they have
discovered unique groups of biomarkers whose profiles are relatively
sensitive and specific in distinguishing patients with Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's
disease from each other, as well as from normal patients and patients
with other neuromuscular and neurological disorders. In total, Power3
has identified 34 biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Power3
intends to develop a series of tests, which involve monitoring the
concentration of panels of proteins in the blood.
Power 3 today announced a collaborative research
agreement with New Horizons Diagnostics Corporation for the development
of antibody based diagnostic tests for neurodegenerative disease
utilizing the Company's identified protein biomarkers. New Horizons
Diagnostics is a leading developer and marketer of easy-to-use rapid
diagnostic tests and instrumentation for applications in the clinical,
environmental and food industries.
Power3s discovery employes a series of tests for
the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases utilizing blood
serum, which was co-developed by neurologist Dr. Stan Appel, Chair of
Neurology at the Methodist Hospital Neurological Institute and Professor
of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and his
team and Dr. Ira L. Goldknopf, a pioneer of proteomic discovery and
Power3 Medical's Chief Scientific Officer and his team in The Woodlands,
Texas.
Dr. Goldknopf stated, "With New Horizons Diagnostics, we are now
positioned to take our biomarkers into the high throughput
immunodiagnostic test market. Their highly sensitive tests and
instrument platforms are uniquely suited for doctors offices to
accelerate the delivery of results and early treatment."
New Horizons Diagnostics will utilize specifically
tailored monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the biomarkers, which
will be incorporated into immunoassays. Once the assays are available,
New Horizons Diagnostics will then develop and validate diagnostic tests
on their platform, specifically designed to detect and discriminate
among the neurodegenerative diseases.
Lawrence Loomis, President of New Horizons
Diagnostics stated, "New Horizons Diagnostics has been successfully
involved in test platform development before, but none of these projects
are as important or timely as the collaboration with Power3. With an
aging population and new therapies available, early detection is
paramount. We are excited to have been chosen to be part of this elite
team to make a new age of diagnostics available."
Steven Rash, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Power3, added, "The development of an antibody based, high throughput
test is a crucial step towards the commercialization of our proteomic
tests. New Horizons Diagnostics' experience and innovative technology
have enabled them to become a leader in assay development. We believe
that by using our identified protein biomarkers for detection of
neurodegenerative diseases coupled with New Horizons Diagnostics' assay
expertise and platform, we can collectively develop a sensitive
commercial test that will address critical unmet needs in diagnostic
medicine. Our strategy is to create licensing opportunities with
companies in the diagnostic sector and we look forward to a mutually
beneficial collaboration."
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of
dementia affecting over 4 million Americans. AD affects one in ten
people age 65, two in ten people age 75, and four in ten people age 85
and older. More than one million people in the U.S. have Parkinson's
disease and it affects about one in 100 Americans over the age of 60. On
a smaller scale, but equally devastating, 30,000 Americans are afflicted
with ALS, with 5,000 new cases annually.
About New Horizons Diagnostics Corporation
New Horizons Diagnostics Corporation is an
established privately held manufacturer and developer of products for
the medical, diagnostic, environmental and food testing markets. They
have had collaborations with notable government such agencies; NASA, The
Department of Defense, The Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for
Disease Control. The Company has developed two core technologies: its
SMART(TM) system for rapid 'dot-on-the-membrane' diagnostic testing, and
its luminescence detection system with accompanying portable
Bioluminometer. These two fundamental technology platforms are creating
families of diagnostic products for the Company. For more information,
visit
http://www.nhdiag.com.
About Power3 Medical Products
Power3 Medical Products,
http://www.Power3Medical.com, is a leading proteomics company
engaged in the discovery of protein footprints, pathways, and mechanisms
of diseases. The Company's patent-pending technologies are being used to
develop screening and diagnostic tests for the early detection and
treatment of disease. The Company's identified protein biomarkers, drug
targets, and diagnostic tests are targeted toward markets with critical
unmet needs in areas such as breast cancer and neurodegenerative
disease. The Company operates a state-of-the-art proteomics laboratory
in The Woodlands, Texas.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
