RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Paradigm
Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM), a biotechnology company, today announced it has
entered into a research collaboration with the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill to identify biomarkers indicative of choline deficiency, a
physiological state that has been implicated in the onset of liver damage in
humans.
Under the terms of the agreement, UNC-CH will provide to Paradigm serum
and urine samples collected as part of its research to determine the required
daily amount of choline. Paradigm Genetics researchers will then perform
biochemical analyses on the biofluid samples and identify the pathways and
mechanisms that may be involved.
"Choline deficiency is known to cause progressive liver damage and has
been associated with increased risk of hepatic cancer in experimental models.
Current serum markers of liver injury lack the sensitivity and specificity to
differentiate among patients with simple or more complex forms of liver
disease, and often fail to signal its early onset," said Thomas J. Colatsky,
Ph.D., Vice President of Healthcare Research for Paradigm. "This
collaboration extends our access to clinical samples from patients with
hepatotoxicity, and provides us with an opportunity to continue to build our
portfolio of proprietary biomarkers of liver injury."
Choline is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in normal
cellular membrane composition and repair, normal brain function and normal
cardiovascular function. The human body does not synthesize enough choline to
meet its own demands; however, choline is widely distributed in foods. The
Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences has recently
recommended increased choline intake for pregnant and nursing women to help
ensure normal fetal brain development. Choline intake may also be helpful in
some liver diseases, manic conditions, cognitive disorders, tardive dyskinesia
and, possibly, some cancers.
About Paradigm Genetics
Paradigm is a biotechnology company that increases R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle, from target discovery to subsequent enhancement of the safety and
efficacy profiles of development candidates in agriculture and human health.
Paradigm uses a systems biology approach to understand gene function in the
context of biological pathways, to develop assays and biomarkers for molecular
diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of our partners. Paradigm's
proprietary Gene to Cell to System(TM) approach has four major components:
gene expression profiling, biochemical profiling (also known as metabolomics),
phenotypic profiling and data integration and coherence. For more
information, visit http://www.paradigmgenetics.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding the Company's ability to increase R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle; and to use a systems biology approach to understand gene function in
the context of biological pathways, to develop assays and biomarkers for
molecular diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of its partners. 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 quarterly report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, 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, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com
CONTACT:
Melissa Matson, Director, Corporate
Communications of Paradigm Genetics, Inc., +1-919-425-3000, or
Mark Vincent or Brian Ritchie of Noonan Russo Presence Euro RSCG,
+1-212-845-4200, for Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
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