deCODE Discovers Common Genetic Variations Contributing to Low Bone Mineral Density and Risk of Osteoporosis
REYKJAVIK, Iceland, December 15 deCODE
REYKJAVIK, Iceland, December 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
- Findings Point to Potential Therapeutic Pathways and Provide Widening
Basis for the Development of a Risk Assessment Test
Scientists from deCODE genetics (Nasdaq:DCGN) and colleagues from
Australia and Denmark today report the discovery of common single-letter
variations (SNPs) in the human genome linked to low bone mineral density
(BMD), the clinical measurement used to diagnose osteoporosis. deCODE had
previously identified five sites in the genome harboring SNPs with influence
on BMD, and today's study has added four more. They were identified through
the correlation of BMD measurements with more than 300,000 SNPs across the
genomes of 7,000 study participants in Iceland. The findings were then
followed up and replicated in more than 5,000 participants from Denmark and
Australia. The paper, "New sequence variants associated with bone mineral
density," is published today in the online edition of Nature Genetics at
http://www.nature.com/ng, and will appear in an upcoming print edition of the
journal.
The new variants reported today are located on chromosomes 17q21, 14q32,
12q13 and 18q21. Like the variants previously discovered by deCODE, certain
of those reported today are known to be involved in bone and skeletal
development. The SNPs on chromosome 17 are adjacent to the SOST gene, which
encodes sclerostin, a protein involved in the formation of bone. And the SNP
on chromosome 18 lies close to the TNFRSF11A gene that has been implicated in
Paget's disease, a disorder causing localized bone deformities and weakness.
"This study expands our understanding of the genetic factors contributing
to low bone mineral density, propensity to fractures, and osteoporosis. And
the genetics is clearly pointing us toward valuable novel drug targets. The
next steps in this work are to analyze how these variants contribute to low
BMD and related disorders, and to identify additional common as well as rare
variants with a high impact on bone density. Once we do, we may well bring
together genetic risk factors accounting for a sufficient proportion of risk
of osteoporosis to develop a clinically useful DNA-based risk assessment
test. This could be a valuable tool, since peak bone density is achieved by
early adulthood. Those at high risk of osteoporosis could therefore take
concrete measures including appropriate diet and exercise regimes, to
maximize their bone mass in youth and lower their risk of the disease later
in life," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
deCODE would like to thank the Icelandic participants, as well as the
participants and scientists from the Danish Prospective Epidemiological risk
Factor (PERF) study and the Australian Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiological
Study (DOES), for making this study possible.
About deCODE
deCODE is a bio-pharmaceutical company developing drugs and DNA-based
tests to improve the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of common diseases.
Its lead therapeutic programs, which leverage the company's expertise in
chemistry and structural biology, include DG041, an antiplatelet compound
being developed for the prevention of arterial thrombosis; DG051 and DG031,
compounds targeting the leukotriene pathway for the prevention of heart
attack; and DG071 and a platform for other PDE4 modulators with therapeutic
applications in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. deCODE is a global
leader in human genetics, and has identified key variations in the genome
(SNPs) conferring increased risk of major public health challenges from
cardiovascular disease to cancer. Based upon these discoveries deCODE has
brought to market a growing range of DNA-based tests for gauging risk and
empowering prevention of common diseases. Through its CLIA-registered
laboratory, deCODE is offers deCODE T2(TM) for type 2 diabetes; deCODE AF(TM)
for atrial fibrillation and stroke; deCODE MI(TM) for heart attack; deCODE
ProstateCancer(TM) for prostate cancer; deCODE Glaucoma(TM) for a major type
of glaucoma; and deCODE BreastCancer(TM), for the common forms of breast
cancer. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.SM Visit us
on the web at http://www.decode.com; on our diagnostics site at
http://www.decodediagnostics.com; for our pioneering personal genome analysis
service, integrating the genetic variants included in these tests and those
linked to another twenty common diseases, at http://www.decodeme.com; and on
our blog at http://www.decodeyou.com.
Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to future
plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results, and the timing of events, to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These
risks and uncertainties include, among others, those relating to our ability
to obtain financing and to form collaborative relationships, the effect of a
potential delisting of our common stock from The Nasdaq Global Market,
uncertainty regarding potential future deterioration in the market for
auction rate securities which could negatively affect our cash position and
result in additional permanent impairment charges, our ability to develop and
market diagnostic products, the level of third party reimbursement for our
products, risks related to preclinical and clinical development of
pharmaceutical products, including the identification of compounds and the
completion of clinical trials, the effect of government regulation and the
regulatory approval processes, market acceptance, our ability to obtain and
protect intellectual property rights for our products, dependence on
collaborative relationships, the effect of competitive products, industry
trends and other risks identified in deCODE's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the risk factors
identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to
those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. deCODE undertakes no obligation to
update or alter these forward-looking statements as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Edward Farmer,
+354-570-2819,
[email protected] .
Gisli Arnason,
+354-570-1825,
[email protected] .
Joy Bessenger,
+1-212-481-3891,
[email protected] .
SOURCE deCODE genetics Inc