MORRISVILLE, N.C., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- PPGx, Inc., a leading global
provider of pharmacogenomic products and services, today announced a
collaboration with Duke University Medical Center to study genes which may
predict patient response to chemotherapy and/or susceptibility to breast
cancer.
The initial collaboration will focus on single nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs) in genes that are involved in the metabolism of drugs used in high dose
chemotherapy regimens. SNPs are single variations in the genetic code of DNA.
Some of these variations may be associated with an increased risk or
progression of disease or with patients' variable response, including adverse
reactions, to anti-cancer drugs.
As a part of the collaboration, scientists from both organizations will
work together to identify and screen various candidate genes for SNPs in their
DNA sequences, with the purpose of obtaining novel genetic markers that
predict efficacy and safety factors in high dose chemotherapy regimens for
high risk and advanced stage breast cancer. In addition, the collaboration
will include working together to validate new SNPs as genetic markers in drug
target, pathway and disease genes that may be implicated in advanced stage
breast cancer.
"With our comprehensive cancer treatment center and oncology research
programs, Duke has significant experience with using high-dose chemotherapy
treatment regimens for late stage cancers," stated O. Michael Colvin, M.D.,
director of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. "We look forward to
collaborating with PPGx on applying its pharmacogenomic technologies to our
oncology programs to find novel genetic markers for predicting patient
response to these high-dose regimens."
"PPGx is committed to the discovery of predictive genetic markers which
can be used both in clinical trials and in better delivery of more effective
and safe medicines for each patient," stated Josh Baker, Ph.D., president and
chief executive officer at PPGx. "We believe the combined expertise of Duke
and PPGx will help us move more quickly toward having an impact on life-
threatening diseases like advanced stage breast cancer."
Pharmacogenomics is the science of using genetic information to predict
the safety, toxicity and/or efficacy of drugs in individual patients or groups
of patients.
PPGx provides technical and consulting expertise in the application of
pharmacogenomics to optimize and accelerate drug discovery and development.
Combining genetic research technologies from its computational and research
divisions, GLP/CLIA global laboratory services and a comprehensive
bioinformatics platform, PPGx provides pharmacogenomic solutions for
biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. PPGx is committed to the
discovery of predictive genetic markers for use in clinical trials to result
in delivery of therapeutic and life-saving medicines, 'the right drug at the
right dose the first time(TM)'. PPGx pharmacogenomic services and products
are exclusively marketed by PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) under the brand name,
Pharmacogenomic Solutions(TM).
Duke University Medical Center is internationally known as a leader in
medical education and biomedical research and is consistently ranked among the
top five hospitals in the nation.
Note: For more information on Duke University Medical Center, please
visit the web site at http://www.mc.duke.edu for more information on PPGx,
please visit the company web site at http://www.ppgx.com . For more
information about Pharmacogenomic Solutions products and services, please
visit the web site at http://www.pgxsolutions.com .
CONTACT: Nancy Zeleniak for PPGx, Inc., 919-462-4088
SOURCE PPGx, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.ppgx.com
CONTACT:
Nancy Zeleniak, 919-462-4088, for PPGx, Inc.
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