Xenomics, Inc. (the
"Company") (Pink Sheets: XNOM; FWB: XE7) a developer of next-generation
medical DNA diagnostic technologies, announced today that its first
diagnostic test developed for stratification of patients with Acute Myeloid
Leukemia (AML) has been implemented at CLIA approved BRT Laboratories Inc.
in Baltimore, Maryland, and is available for clinicians.
AML is the most common form of acute leukemia with about 13,400 new
cases expected in 2007 in the USA and a similar number in Europe. Early
detection of AML subtypes is important for development of a treatment
strategy. The new test is based on a recent discovery of Drs. Falini and
Mecucci at the Institute of Hematology at the University of Perugia in
Italy that mutations in a nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene are characteristic of
30-40% of the cases of AML. NPM1 is a protein involved in regulation of
ribosome biogenesis, cell division, cell death, and other important
processes. Xenomics has obtained an exclusive license for the invention and
developed a test that detects all 45 known mutations of NPM1 in a single
reaction. The results will help physicians with prognosis, therapy, and
monitoring of the disease. Stratification of AML patients is also necessary
for anti-AML drug clinical trials.
"We are glad to work with Xenomics on AML diagnostics and to add this
test to our repertoire of genetic tests" commented Antonette Allen,
Clinical Service Manager of BRT Laboratories. "We believe that the NPM1
diagnostic test will not only help hematologists in the treatment of the
disease but also in developing a test for monitoring the disease and
patient response to anti-tumor therapy".
About Xenomics, Inc.
Xenomics is a molecular diagnostics company that focuses on the
development of DNA-based tests using Transrenal DNA (Tr-DNA). Xenomics'
patented technology uses safe and simple urine collection and can be
applied to a broad range of applications, including prenatal testing, tumor
detection and monitoring, tissue transplantation, infectious disease
detection, genetic testing for forensic identity determination, drug
development, and research to counter bioterrorism. Scientists from Xenomics
were the first to report that fragments of DNA from normal cell death cross
the kidney barrier and can be detected in urine. The Company believes that
its technology will open significant new markets in the molecular
diagnostics field. Xenomics has three issued U.S. patents covering
different applications of the technology for molecular diagnostics and
genetic testing and a European patent for the Company's prenatal testing
applications, and numerous pending patent applications. For more
investor-specific information, including daily and historical Company stock
quote data, recent news releases and an Investor Fact Sheet, please visit
xenomics. Xenomics is also listed on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange under the symbol XE7.
About BRT Laboratories
BRT Laboratories, Inc., a Baltimore-based biotechnology company, is a
multi-faceted laboratory offering a full range of genetic services that
includes relationship analysis, identity testing, and clinical assay
development. BRT also offers services for the development and validation of
diagnostic and monitoring assays for the research community and performs
diagnostic and patient monitoring testing for physicians, hospitals, and
clinical trial applications.
BRT offers a full range of services that support commercial, government
and academic collaborations. BRT has been serving the community for over 60
years in the areas of paternity, immigration, forensics and clinical
diagnostics. For more information, please visit BRT's website at
brtlabs.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking. Such
statements are indicated by words such as "expect," "might," "should,"
"anticipate" and similar words indicating uncertainty in facts and figures.
Although Xenomics believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-
looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will prove to be
correct. As discussed in Xenomics' Form 10-KSB as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2006 and its other periodic reports,
actual results could differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements as a result of the following factors, among
others: uncertainties associated with product development, the risk that
Xenomics will not obtain approval to market its products, the risk that
Xenomics' technology will not gain market acceptance, the risks associated
with dependence upon key personnel, and the need for additional financing.
Xenomics, Inc.
xenomics