REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Navigenics, a
genetic health services company, today announced a new study of genetic
predisposition analysis. The Mayo Clinic study will examine how patients
understand and use information provided by a Navigenics genetic risk
assessment. The research also addresses physicians' understanding of
genetic assessments and the impact of such information on preventive health
decision making. Titled "A Proof of Principle Trial of Communication to
Patients Receiving Predictive Genetic Risk Assessment," the study begins
this month and runs through September 2009. The study is funded jointly by
Navigenics and Mayo Clinic.
"In this emerging field it is absolutely critical that the entire
industry remain rooted in high-quality science and research - this is
exactly what we do and what our customers, collaborators and advisors
expect from Navigenics," said Mari Baker, president and CEO of Navigenics.
"We believe this research collaboration with a leading medical institution
like Mayo Clinic will help the entire industry evolve responsibly, provide
the necessary tools to educate clinicians, and ultimately improve people's
lives."
The Navigenics(TM) Health Compass is a new genetic risk assessment
service that combines an advanced genome scan with the latest discoveries
in genetic medicine and personalized genetic counseling. It gives
individuals information on their genetic predisposition to developing a
broad menu of common conditions, so that, with their physicians, they can
seek earlier diagnosis, delay the onset or prevent the conditions
altogether. The service calculates genetic predisposition based on
genome-wide association studies that combine a variety of epidemiological
variables. Navigenics scours the more than 4,000 published studies
correlating genes to medical conditions and other common human traits to
include only those which present high-quality and reliable results. The
Navigenics Health Compass is the only personal genetic risk assessment to
provide on-staff Certified Genetic Counselors to help people understand
their individual results.
"The science that links genes with many common inherited diseases is
well- established and growing," said Navigenics co-founder and clinical
advisory board chair David Agus, M.D. "Now we need to better understand how
individuals use this information. Navigenics hopes to learn more about
patients' hopes and expectations regarding genetic risk assessment. Our
goal is to leverage the wealth of information that genetics can provide to
better motivate patients to take action that will improve their health. Our
research collaboration with the Mayo Clinic helps us get there."
About Navigenics
Navigenics, Inc. is a privately held company based in Redwood Shores,
Calif. The company was founded by David Agus, M.D. and Dietrich Stephan,
Ph.D., with the goal of improving health outcomes in individuals across the
population. Navigenics educates and empowers customers with knowledge of
their genetic predispositions, and then motivates them to act on the
information to prevent the onset of disease, achieve earlier diagnosis,
appropriately manage disease, or otherwise lessen its impact. Navigenics'
lead investors are Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Sequoia Capital and
MDV-Mohr Davidow Ventures. More information is available at
http://www.navigenics.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Hal Mackins
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
Hal.mackins@fkhealth.com
(415) 677-2747
(415) 994-0040 - mobile
Brenna Sweeney
Navigenics
bsweeney@navigenics.com
(206) 999-4796
SOURCE Navigenics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.navigenics.com
CONTACT:
Hal Mackins of Feinstein Kean Healthcare, for
Navigenics, Inc., +1-415-677-2747, mobile +1-415-994-0040,
Hal.mackins@fkhealth.com; or Brenna Sweeney of Navigenics,
+1-206-999-4796, bsweeney@navigenics.com
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