REYKJAVIK, February 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To mark American Heart Month, deCODE genetics today announced that during the month of February it will offer its deCODEme Cardio Scan(TM), the unique new tool that enables individuals to better understand their inherited risk of heart attack, stroke and atrial fibrillation, intracranial and abdominal aortic aneurysm, and venous thromboembolism, for the special promotional price of $100.
On Thursday, February 5th, just ahead of Friday’s annual focus on women’s heart health awareness, deCODE CEO Kari Stefansson is scheduled to appear live on The Martha Stewart Show, the nationally syndicated lifestyle series hosted by Martha Stewart. The discussion will focus on how understanding the inherited risk factors measured by the deCODEme(TM) full genome scan and the new Cardio and Cancer Scans may empower people to better protect their health. Those unable to watch Thursday’s show live can find a replay of the segment on http://www.marthastewart.com, and through a link on deCODE’s blog http://www.decodeyou.com.
“As the people who discovered the highest impact genetic risk factors for heart attack and stroke, this is our way of encouraging people gain more understanding of their cardiovascular risk. Because these diseases occur at the interface between genes and the environment, this is empowering information that may help people to take action to effectively reduce the likelihood of developing these diseases. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to talk about our scans with Martha Stewart in this month devoted to increasing the awareness of heart disease. Heart disease remains the leading killer of women as well as men, but there is a lot we can all do, working on our own and with our doctors, to reduce our risk and to stay healthier longer,” said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
deCODEme(TM) is the world’s first retail genome analysis service. The full genome Complete Scan scan and the Cardio and Cancer scans build on deCODE’s global leadership in the discovery of common variations in the sequence of the human genome conferring increased risk of common diseases. deCODEme(TM) scans detect the single-letter genetic variations (called SNPs) with the biggest impact on disease risk. These are SNPs validated in large-scale studies by deCODE as well as leading academic research institutions. DNA analysis is conducted in deCODE’s own CLIA-registered laboratory, one of the largest genotyping facilities in the world. The deCODEme Cardio(TM) scan measures 8 SNPs associated with the risk of heart attack, stroke and atrial fibrillation, intracranial and abdominal aortic aneurysm, and venous thromboembolism. This month deCODE is offering deCODE Cardio for $100, with promotional prices on all its deCODEme scans. These prices are valid through February 28, 2009, details at http://www.decodeme.com.
When you order a deCODEme(TM) scan you create your own username and password, and are sent a simple cheek swab which you use and then return to us. We extract DNA from your sample, analyze SNPs across your genome according to which scan you have ordered, and then post your results to your secure online profile. Your results present your relative risk of a given disease compared to the general population, as well as your absolute lifetime risk, which is the percentage likelihood that an individual will develop a disease in their lifetime. The results also explain what other risk factors interact with genetic risk to increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a given disease, as well as how subscribers may wish to follow up with their doctor to optimize the prevention or early detection of these diseases. deCODEme(TM) offers genetic counseling to all its subscribers, via email or by telephone.
Many deCODE customers have already employed the results of deCODEme and the company’s range of DNA-based risk assessment tests to improve and protect their health. Stories of how deCODE’s products are helping individuals and their physicians to take more control of their health can be found on our blog, at http://www.deCODEyou.com.
deCODEme Cancer(TM) measures 27 SNPs associated with risk of prostate, lung, bladder and colorectal cancers, as well as basal cell carcinoma and the common form of breast cancer. The deCODEme(TM) full genome Complete Scan measures well over 1 million SNPs across the entire genome and provides assessment for risk of 34 different diseases and traits, as well as the latest in genetic ancestry analysis. For a video explaining how deCODEme(TM) works, go to: http://www.decodeme.com/genetics-explained-video.
About deCODE
deCODE is a bio-pharmaceutical company developing drugs and DNA-based tests to improve the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of common diseases. Its lead therapeutic programs, which leverage the company’s expertise in chemistry and structural biology, include DG041, an antiplatelet compound being developed for the prevention of arterial thrombosis; DG051 and DG031, compounds targeting the leukotriene pathway for the prevention of heart attack; and DG071 and a platform for other PDE4 modulators with therapeutic applications in Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. deCODE is a global leader in human genetics, and has identified key variations in the genome (SNPs) conferring increased risk of major public health challenges from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Based upon these discoveries deCODE has brought to market a growing range of DNA-based tests for gauging risk and empowering prevention of common diseases. Through its CLIA-registered laboratory, deCODE is offers deCODE T2(TM) for type 2 diabetes; deCODE AF(TM) for atrial fibrillation and stroke; deCODE MI(TM) for heart attack; deCODE ProstateCancer(TM) for prostate cancer; deCODE Glaucoma(TM) for a major type of glaucoma; and deCODE BreastCancer(TM), for the common forms of breast cancer. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.(SM) Visit us on the web at http://www.decode.com; on our diagnostics site at http://www.decodediagnostics.com; for our pioneering personal genome analysis service and new Cardio and Cancer scans, integrating the genetic variants included in these tests and those linked to another twenty common diseases, at http://www.decodeme.com; and on our blog at http://www.decodeyou.com.
Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, and the timing of events, to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those relating to our ability to obtain financing and to form collaborative relationships, the effect of a potential delisting of our common stock from The Nasdaq Global Market, our ability to develop and market diagnostic products, the level of third party reimbursement for our products, risks related to preclinical and clinical development of pharmaceutical products, including the identification of compounds and the completion of clinical trials, the effect of government regulation and the regulatory approval processes, market acceptance, our ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights for our products, dependence on collaborative relationships, the effect of competitive products, industry trends and other risks identified in deCODE’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the risk factors identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. deCODE undertakes no obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Certain restrictions may apply to the products and offers mentioned above. See http://www.decodeme.com for details.
CONTACT: Contacts: Edward Farmer, +354-570-2819, edward.farmer@decode.is;
Gisli Arnason, +354-570-1825, gisli.arnason@decode.is; Joy Bessenger,
+1-212-481-3891, joy.bessenger@decode.is
