RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Paradigm
Genetics (Nasdaq: PDGM) announced today that data presented at last week's
23rd Annual Symposium of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology demonstrated
that its automated pathology software could automatically distinguish between
normal and diseased liver tissue and detect the presence and degree of
hepatocellular hypertrophy. These data were derived from studies performed in
collaboration with the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS) and Experimental Pathology Laboratories (EPL) on rat liver tissues
from subchronic toxicity studies previously conducted by the NIEHS and the
National Toxicology Program (NTP). Data were also presented demonstrating that
automated pathology software can enhance a pathologist's interpretation of
tissue response by accurately and consistently identifying tissue features.
"These findings demonstrate that Paradigm Genetics' automated pathology
software is readily able to detect tissue changes from normality as well as
identify and provide quantitative histological biomarkers of drug-induced
liver damage," said Peter Johnson, MD, Executive Vice President, Life Sciences
and Chief Medical Officer.
"The results of these collaborative studies highlight the value of machine
vision in automated tissue analysis," said Tom Colatsky, Ph.D., Vice
President, Healthcare Research. "The ability to identify and quantitate subtle
changes in tissue structure enables a better understanding of disease and drug
action, and creates an opportunity to discover novel biomarkers and targets by
integrating and rigorously analyzing multiple complex data streams."
As the liver plays such a vital role in the body, it is frequently one of
the most studied tissues for adverse effects in drug discovery and
development. Hepatocellular hypertrophy is a morphologic change in which
existing liver cells become enlarged and exhibit an increase in their
functional capacity. This condition is considered largely an adaptive change
that occurs in response to disease, chemical toxicity or drug therapies. As
microsomal enzyme induction associated with hepatocellular hypertrophy can
pose a potential risk in drug interactions, the presence and degree of
hepatocellular hypertrophy is an important consideration in drug development.
At present, the presence and degree of hepatocellular hypertrophy is
determined microscopically by pathologists and may be difficult to diagnose in
some instances. Paradigm Genetics is actively marketing its automated
pathology software to pharmaceutical companies to provide them with automated
and objective mathematical quantification of tissue, including hepatocellular
hypertrophy, and complete automated screening of tissue slide normality.
About Paradigm Genetics
Paradigm Genetics is a biotechnology company applying its proprietary
systems biology platform to the discovery of safer, more effective drugs and
agrichemicals. Paradigm Genetics has major collaborations with the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Bayer CropScience, the Monsanto
Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, the National Institute of Standards &
Technology's Advanced Technology Program, and L'Oreal Inc. For more
information, visit http://www.ParadigmGenetics.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding the Company's expectations for using its systems biology
platform to discover safer, more effective drugs and agrichemicals as well as
statements regarding the use of its automated pathology software as an
accurate, sensitive and important tool for identifying biomarkers. Such
forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and
are subject to a number of risks, factors and uncertainties that may cause
actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those
referred to in the forward-looking statements. These risks, factors and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Paradigm's early stage of
development, history of net losses, technological and product development
uncertainties, reliance on research collaborations, uncertainty of additional
funding and ability to protect its patents and proprietary rights. Certain of
these and other risks are identified in Paradigm's annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2003 and in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, each filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to update any of the
forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these
statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations, except as may
be required by law.
SOURCE Paradigm Genetics
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Related links:
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com
CONTACT:
Brian Ritchie or Mark Vincent of Euro RSCG
Life NRP, +1-212-845-4200
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