NGC Medical SpA Selects BioServe as Genomic Testing and Technology Partner to Grow Its NutriGeneCode(TM) Nutrigenomics Businesses

BELTSVILLE, MD--(Marketwire - April 20, 2010) - BioServe today announced that NGC Medical SpA has selected the company as the exclusive DNA testing partner for its NutriGeneCode™ nutrigenomic test business. NutriGeneCode is a simple, non-invasive saliva test able to identify 50 of the most significant Single Nucleotide Mutations (SNPs) involved in cellular aging and consequent body response, such as lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, hypertension, inflammation, oxidation and detoxification reactions and DNA repair. NutriGeneCode tests are a key component of NGC's innovative personal genetic health program, which provides personalized nutraceutical recommendations based on a person's genetic profile.

Through this agreement, BioServe, a leading provider of CLIA-certified genetic testing services, will provide NGC Medical with a full complement of CLIA-certified personalized genomics services, including DNA extraction, QC DNA, and control DNA for NutriGenCode™ validation. BioServe expects to process 10,000 NutriGeneCode tests within the next year.

Paolo Cremascoli, President and CEO of NGC Medical SpA, said, "Our NutriGeneCode tests are already playing an important role in helping people make informed decisions about their health. As NGC continues to grow the NutriGeneCode™ brand in Italy and beyond, we require a partner with the genomics expertise and robust processes in place to help guarantee the quality of our tests and their results. After rigorous assessment of providers of genomic services across Europe and the U.S., we are convinced BioServe is the right partner to support the growth of our NutriGeneCode brand."

Rama Modali, President, BioServe, said, "This is an exciting time in the science of genetics as it relates to healthy aging and personalized medicine. Understanding the relationship between genetics and health is in line with healthcare's shift to personalized diagnostics and preventive healthcare. We are excited to work with NGC, which will help spearhead BioServe's growth to a global position of leadership in the field of genetic testing."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed and discussions are ongoing to develop a more comprehensive partnership between the two companies.

About NGC Medical
With more than 20 years of experience in the Italian health sector, NGC Medical is market leader in building and managing public and private hospital departments, including Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology and Interventional Radiology catheterization laboratories, Cardiac Surgery units and Intensive Care units. NGC Medical also manufactures and distributes cutting edge medical devices and designs and builds operating rooms, intensive care units and catheterization laboratories.

Avionord, NGC Medical's airline subsidiary, is the domestic market leader in the transportation of human organs for transplants and patients. NGC Pharma, a division of NGC Medical, has developed a genetic test and a line of food supplements specifically designed to address harmful genetic mutations that includes predisposition, family history, anamnesis and lifestyle. For more information please visit www.ngc.it.

About BioServe
BioServe provides a comprehensive 'biomaterial to validated data' genomics services platform, helping researchers gain the pre-clinical data for breakthroughs in drug discovery, molecular diagnostics and pharmacogenomics. Utilizing BioServe's genomics services platform, researchers can identify genetic markers, validate drug targets and correlate clinical data with molecular data to accelerate the development of new and safer drugs. BioServe's services extend from nucleic acids processing, DNA synthesis, high throughput sequencing and genotyping, genome wide-scans and gene expression analyses to ready-made large epidemiologically sound case-control studies of inflammatory disorders, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and many cancers. BioServe's Global BioRepository provides researchers with a library of 600,000 human DNA, tissue and serum samples linked to detailed clinical and demographic data from 120,000 consented and anonymized patients from four continents.

For more information please visit www.bioserve.com or call 301-470-3362.


Contacts:

Constantine Theodoropulos
Base Pair Communications
617-816-4637

Back to news