Primagen Holding B.V. Expands Into Cardiovascular Field With Technology License From The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Primagen Holding BV, a molecular diagnostics company, announced today that the exclusive, worldwide license for the CD133 diagnostic biomarker has been expanded to include the cardiovascular field. Primagen originally licensed the CD133 biomarker from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

CD133 is a genetic expression marker for presence of developing endothelial cells in the peripheral blood circulation and is associated with angiogenesis, the growth of new capillary blood vessels. Clinical research from several academic centers in Europe and the U.S. has shown that CD133 is a promising prognostic indicator of tumor growth.

"New research suggests that the CD133 biomarker can also be used to determine blood vessel growth in cardiovascular disease and to monitor patient progress following surgery" says Bob van Gemen, CEO of Primagen. "In contrast to cancer, where blood vessel growth is associated with disease progression and tumor growth, it is a positive indicator for recovery from cardiovascular surgery. The ability to measure recovery progress can ultimately help physicians better manage patient treatment."

Primagen is currently developing molecular diagnostic products based on the measurement of CD133 expression in peripheral blood cells. By assessing the presence of CD133, these diagnostic tests can help physicians maximize patient treatment and improve the quality of life of both cancer and cardiovascular patients.

About Primagen Holding B.V.

Primagen is a privately held company headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Primagen designs, develops and commercializes molecular tests that have high, individualized predictive value and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, such as infections, AIDS and cancer. Primagen has two proprietary molecular product lines on the market. The Mitox(TM) products measure mitochondrial DNA and RNA in clinical samples with unmatched accuracy. The Dry Fluid Spot (DFS) Rainbow product brings HIV-1 viral load measurement to resource-poor environments. For additional information about Primagen, visit www.primagen.com.

Contact : Primagen Holding B.V. Jos Rijntjes +31-20-566-8575 p.j.rijntjes@primagen.com

CONTACT: Contact : Primagen Holding B.V., Jos Rijntjes, +31-20-566-8575,p.j.rijntjes@primagen.com