FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. announced today the signing of a research and collaboration agreement in Liver Disease with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB). Under the terms of the agreement, Ciphergen will provide its suite of proteomic solutions (Deep Proteome(TM), Pattern Track(TM) Process and ProteinChip(R) System) designed for biomarker discovery and development of assays, to analyze clinical samples collected at UTMB. The collaboration gives Ciphergen the first option to negotiate an exclusive license to discoveries made during the agreement and will be part of UTMB’s ongoing research in liver disease.
The aim of the Ciphergen-UTMB collaboration is to develop a diagnostic blood test that can measure the progress of liver disease and thus reduce the need for painful and costly biopsies of the liver in Hepatitis C patients.
Over the past several years, John R. Petersen, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology at UTMB, and Ned Snyder, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine at UTMB, have been studying how Hepatitis C infection can damage or destroy the liver. The two UTMB researchers have been interested in using blood markers (biomarkers) that can help determine the amount of liver damage that has been caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Physicians agree that such biomarkers would be extremely useful in identifying which patients require treatment, as well as monitoring patients undergoing treatment. The UTMB researchers hope that biomarkers identified by Ciphergen’s ProteinChip(R) Array based Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization -- Time of Flight -- Mass Spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) system , when combined with routine clinical laboratory testing, could be very useful in identifying patients at risk of severe liver damage caused by Hepatitis C. “By using SELDI, we hope to discover new serum biomarkers that can be translated into clinical assays,” Dr. Petersen said.
“This agreement allows us to expand our current research program in hepatology by working with Professor John R. Petersen and his colleagues at UTMB,” said Gail Page, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ciphergen. “The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is a major medical and research center for the study and treatment of infectious diseases such as hepatitis C and hepatitis B viruses, which can lead to liver fibrosis and potentially to liver cancer. We are very pleased to be collaborating to achieve our mutual goals to develop novel diagnostics in the field of hepatology.”
Chronic hepatitis C affects about 3 million adults in the United States. To identify whether treatment is necessary, a liver biopsy -- which is invasive and expensive -- is needed. Currently treatment is aimed at eliminating the virus to prevent progression and, hopefully, promote regression of the liver damage. Of those treated, approximately half clear the virus, which is a sign that the treatment was successful. In order to determine if therapy has stopped liver damage, another biopsy is needed. The hope is that by using serum biomarkers, the number of liver biopsies can be reduced or eliminated.
About Ciphergen
Ciphergen is dedicated to the discovery of protein biomarkers and panels of biomarkers and their development into protein molecular diagnostic tests that improve patient care; and to providing collaborative R&D services through its Biomarker Discovery Center(R) laboratories for biomarker discovery for new diagnostic tests for disease diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response and for improved drug toxicology, efficacy and clinical trial stratification assays to speed pharmaceutical development. Ciphergen develops, manufactures and markets a family of ProteinChip(R) Systems and services for clinical, research and process proteomics applications. ProteinChip Systems enable protein discovery, validation, identification and assay development to provide researchers with predictive, multi-marker assay capabilities and a better understanding of biological function at the protein level. Additional information about Ciphergen can be found at www.ciphergen.com
Safe Harbor Statement
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: For purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), Ciphergen disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the predictive diagnostic value of protein biomarkers, and the expectation that protein multi-marker blood tests will address unmet clinical needs and improve patient care in the field of liver disease. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements due to various factors, including the possibility that biomarkers discovered by Ciphergen may fail to validate in larger studies as providing an accurate diagnostic for liver disease, the ProteinChip technology’s ability to validate and/or develop protein biomarkers as novel drug targets, diagnostic or toxicology assays, and the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize such tests. Investors should consult Ciphergen’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q dated August 9, 2005, for further information regarding these and other risks of the Company’s business.
NOTE: Ciphergen, ProteinChip and Biomarker Discovery Center are registered trademarks of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
CONTACT: Sue Carruthers, Investor Relations of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.,+1-510-505 2297
Web site: http://www.ciphergen.com//