Epinex Diagnostics Release: Glycated Albumin Presented as a Novel Biomarker for Diabetes Monitoring

TUSTIN, CA--(Marketwire - April 06, 2011) -

The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) presented a webinar on February 24th, 2011, titled “Novel Biomarkers for the Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes,” in which glycated albumin (GA) was described as a promising biomarker for patients who are underserved by usual diabetes monitoring methods. Glycated albumin is the cornerstone of Epinex’s flagship product -- the G1A™ Rapid Diabetes Monitoring Index Test.

The presenters described limitations inherent in glycated hemoglobin (A1c) testing and acknowledged that there is a “window of need” for shorter-term glycation markers such as GA. While the need for larger scale clinical trials was emphasized, there was general consensus among the presenters that GA could be a valuable tool for diabetes monitoring.

Recent reports suggest that over half the nation will have diabetes or prediabetes by 2020. Due to this rapidly escalating epidemic, the webinar emphasized the clear need to change the approach to dealing with diabetes. In her presentation on novel biomarkers, Dr. Allison Goldfine, Head of Clinical Research at Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard University, issued a “diabetes imperative” to identify new treatment and prevention strategies.

Epinex Diagnostics, an innovative medical device company, is already working to answer this imperative by developing a new, rapid GA test that bridges the gap between existing monitoring methods. Such a test may help prevent the social and economic devastation of the growing diabetes problem.

The webinar was conducted by several key opinion leaders in diabetes research and practice. Dr. Goldfine was joined by Dr. David Sacks, Senior Investigator and Chief of Clinical Chemistry Services at the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and Dr. William Winter, Professor of Pathology and Pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, FL.

The AACC is an international scientific/medical society of clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists and other individuals involved with clinical chemistry. They are best known for the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Chemistry, and for hosting the world’s largest laboratory conference.

About Epinex Diagnostics, Inc.

Epinex is a private medical device company that develops innovative point-of-care diagnostic tests for patients and doctors. Its flagship product is the G1A™ Rapid Diabetes Monitoring Index Test, a monthly GA test for the detection and monitoring of diabetes. Follow the company’s Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates and developments.

Update

This release did not correctly identify that Epinex was the responsible party issuing the release or that Epinex was responsible for the inferences and conclusions reached from the content of the presentations. Accordingly, Epinex Diagnostics wishes to point out that the prior March 7, 2011 press release was not intended to mistakenly construe that the AACC was the responsible party and hereby retracts the statements made that could be interpreted as being endorsed or approved by the AACC or the webinar speakers.