DiaGenic and Pfizer to collaborate on blood based biomarkers for early stages of Alzheimer's disease

DiaGenic and Pfizer to collaborate on blood based biomarkers for early
stages of Alzheimer's disease

Oslo - December 17, 2010: DiaGenic ASA  [OSL:DIAG] and Pfizer Inc
[NYSE: PFE] today signed an agreement for explorative R&D collaboration
to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using
DiaGenic's patented gene expression technology and its blood samples
from ongoing clinical studies.

The companies will perform a joint modular study where they will compare
longitudinal changes in blood based gene expression patterns in subjects
with stable mild cognitive impairment (MCI), progressive MCI (prodromal
AD), and Alzheimer's disease. The objective is to identify gene
expression patterns in blood from patients who progress from MCI to
Alzheimer's disease and with different stages of Alzheimer's disease.

The study expects to start in December and the agreement gives Pfizer a
non-exclusive, world-wide license to use DiaGenic's MCI test and AD
tests in their research and drug development programs.

"MCI progression biomarkers will be very useful in drug discovery, in
clinical trials as surrogate markers of treatment efficacy as well as
being very valuable as diagnostic tests in clinical practice", said
DiaGenic CEO Dr. Erik Christensen, MD PhD. "This collaboration is the
first result of DiaGenic's refocused strategy on teaming up with large
pharmaceutical companies to deliver new diagnostic tools. It also
demonstrates that DiaGenic is an attractive partner for identifying
progression biomarkers as we bring along a unique experience in blood
based gene expression testing as well as an extensive bio bank of well
characterized MCI and AD patients."

"Teaming up with Pfizer for an explorative R&D collaboration is a
significant recognition of the work DiaGenic has performed for the last
12 years. DiaGenic's strong IP portfolio linked to measuring gene
expression in blood makes us unique as a partner in the CNS field," said
DiaGenic's R&D Director and co-founder, Dr. Anders Lönneborg. "In drug
development, DiaGenic's biomarker program will enable an early and
accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and therefore improve success
rates in clinical trials."

The commercial terms of the agreement remains undisclosed.

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About MCI and prodromal AD

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal
aging and dementia. It involves problems with memory, language, thinking
and judgment that are greater than typical age-related changes. Mild
cognitive impairment increases your risk of later developing dementia,
including Alzheimer's disease and studies show that 50% of patients with
amnestic MCI will convert to Alzheimer's patients. There is no proven
treatment or therapy for MCI. Prodromal AD is an early disease stage of
Alzheimer's disease before any dementia symptoms have developed.

About Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a fatal,
degenerative brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory
and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out
daily activities, such as personal hygiene and eating. As AD progresses,
individuals may also experience changes in personality and behaviour,
such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, delusions or
hallucinations.

According to the Alzheimer's Association the worldwide prevalence of
dementia including AD is 35.6 million people.  This number is projected
to triple to 115.4 million people in 2050 with 1 in 85 persons living
with the disease.  In the United States alone, recent estimates indicate
as many as 5.3 million Americans have AD.

AD is among the most costly diseases worldwide. The annual cost of
dementia, including AD, has been estimated at $604 billion.  In the
United States, the indirect and direct costs of caring for people with
AD are estimated to be $100 billion a year. An aging global population
will result in an increased burden on AD caregivers and public health
systems worldwide.

 

Contact:

Erik Christensen, CEO

Telephone: 47 95939918

e-mail: erik.christensen@diagenic.com