Clinical Data and Algynomics to Commercialize Proprietary Genetic Pain Panel.Agreement Will Provide Researchers Access to Over 3,000 Proprietary SNPs for Drug and Diagnostic Development NEWTON, Mass. -- Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : CLDA CLDA California Lyme Disease Association ) announced today that its Cogenics Division has signed an agreement to provide genomic testing services to the pain research community based on Algynomics' proprietary panel of genetic markers. This panel is designed to examine the genetic basis or underpinnings of human pain sensitivity, pain conditions, and responses to existing and new pharmacological agents used to treat pain, inflammation and mood disorders The mood or affective disorders are mental disorders that primarily affect mood and interfere with the activities of daily living. Usually it includes major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (also called Manic Depressive Psychosis). . The genetic panel is the result of more than ten years of rigorous pain research performed at the University of North Carolina's Center for Neurosensory neu·ro·sen·so·ry adj. Of or relating to the sensory activity or functions of the nervous system. Disorders located within UNC's School of Dentistry Noun 1. school of dentistry - a graduate school offering study leading to degrees in dentistry dental school grad school, graduate school - a school in a university offering study leading to degrees beyond the bachelor's degree , and which has been licensed to Algynomics for commercialization. The Cogenics genetic pain panel, initially offered as a complex microarray-based genotyping service, will be launched at the American Society of Human Genomics Annual Meeting to be held from Oct 9-13 in New Orleans. The proprietary panel provides researchers with access to more than 3,000 SNP's for drug and diagnostic development to help determine an individual's susceptibility to pain. Robert Bondaryk, PhD, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cogenics, commented, "We are pleased to reach this agreement and look forward to working closely with Algynomics to bring this unique research tool in the area of chronic and acute pain to market. This collaboration fits well with Clinical Data's model of commercializing proprietary offerings in pharmacogenomics for our clients in research and clinical settings and brings unique value to our pharma, biotech and academic clients doing research and drug development in all of the therapeutic categories where pain management is a significant challenge." Luda Diatchenko, MD, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Algynomics, said, "We have designed the pain genetic panel for use in clinical studies seeking to identify the genetic contribution to pain susceptibility and to predict positive and adverse responses to therapeutic regimens for acute and chronic pain. We envision this testing service to become a standard tool for clinical scientists and researchers to better understand the pathophysiology pathophysiology /patho·phys·i·ol·o·gy/ (-fiz?e-ol´ah-je) the physiology of disordered function. path·o·phys·i·ol·o·gy n. 1. of pain conditions and the identification of useful clinical markers." The management of pain syndromes and conditions is considered to fall into two major categories: acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is generally transient and most commonly results from an injury or surgery. Chronic pain results from persistent or long-term changes in pain processing pathways produced by prolonged inflammation (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis Chronic, progressive autoimmune disease causing connective-tissue inflammation, mostly in synovial joints. It can occur at any age, is more common in women, and has an unpredictable course. and osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. ), injury (e.g., whiplash whiplash n. a common neck and/or back injury suffered in automobile accidents (particularly from being hit from the rear) in which the head and/or upper back is snapped back and forth suddenly and violently by the impact. and lower back pain), surgery (e.g., implants, amputations, and thoracotomy thoracotomy /tho·ra·cot·o·my/ (-kot´ah-me) pleurotomy; incision of the chest wall. tho·ra·cot·o·my n. Incision into the chest wall. Also called pleurotomy. ), and other environmental exposures and insults (e.g., fibromyalgia fibromyalgia Chronic syndrome that is characterized by musculoskeletal pain, often at multiple sites. The cause is unknown. A significant number of persons with fibromyalgia also have mental disorders, especially depression. , temporomandibular disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), condition characterized by frequently alternating constipation and diarrhea in the absence of any disease process. It is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, especially in the lower left quadrant, bloating, and flatulence. ). Chronic pain is the number one cause of adult disability, affecting 20-30% of the U.S. population and accounting for approximately 20% of medical visits and 10% of prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, sales. Pain sensitivity, the susceptibility to develop chronic pain conditions, and the responses to treatment of both acute and chronic pain, are highly variable and influenced by genetic variation in multiple genes. About Algynomics, Inc Algynomics (www.algynomics.com) is a privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. that was founded in 2005. The core mission of Algynomics is to become the world-wide leader in the area of pain diagnostics, management, and prevention by use of emerging methodologies with an emphasis in the field of pain genomics. Algynomics holds a lead position in the area of human pain genetics and owns the rights, which are licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, coeducational, research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. Also known as The University of North Carolina, Carolina, North Carolina, or simply UNC , to develop and market genetic markers in the field of pain. The company is developing niche specific medical devices utilizing proprietary software programs that integrate information of genetic pain biomarkers with neurological and psychological assessments which will permit the sub-diagnosis and "tailoring" of safe and effective pain therapies for the individual patient. The introduction of these devices to clinical practice will reduce overall healthcare costs for payers, providers and patients and will ultimately become a key diagnostic device for healthcare providers. Algynomics also holds the rights to develop and market several novel small molecular weight compounds as analgesics Analgesics Definition Analgesics are medicines that relieve pain. Purpose Analgesics are those drugs that mainly provide pain relief. based on its discoveries in the area of pain genomics. Algynomics is exploring further partnership opportunities targeting diagnostic and therapeutic areas in pain management About Clinical Data, Inc. Clinical Data, Inc., a worldwide leader in providing comprehensive molecular and pharmacogenomics services as well as genetic tests to improve patient care, is organized under three worldwide divisions segmented by service offerings and varying client constituents: PGxHealth[TM]; Cogenics[TM]; and Vital Diagnostics[TM]. The Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Services[TM] division, Cogenics, consolidates operations of Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lark Technologies, Inc., Icoria, Inc., and Genome Express SA to provide a comprehensive range of molecular biology molecular biology, scientific study of the molecular basis of life processes, including cellular respiration, excretion, and reproduction. The term molecular biology was coined in 1938 by Warren Weaver, then director of the natural sciences program at the Rockefeller and pharmacogenomics services to pharmaceutical, biotech, academic, agricultural, and government clients. These services are offered in both research and regulated environments and have applications across the lifecycle of pharmaceutical product development including pharmacovigilance requirements post-launch. PGxHealth builds upon existing assets and know-how acquired from Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Icoria, and Genome Express in the areas of genomics-based, genetic tests and therapeutic efficacy and safety biomarker development for drug utilization. PGxHealth develops, validates and commercializes novel Therapeutic Diagnostics[TM], in some instances in combination with new and existing therapeutics, to improve patient care. In addition, PGxHealth has a therapeutic drug candidate, vilazodone, currently in late stage clinical trials for the treatment of depression. Vital Diagnostics serves the clinical laboratory in the traditional in-vitro diagnostics market worldwide. With a focus on the physician's office, hospital and small-to-medium sized laboratory segments and customers in approximately 100 countries, Vital Diagnostics has achieved a leading market share for instruments and reagents sold into moderately complex physicians' office laboratories within the United States. Clinical Data is headquartered in Newton, Mass. with operations in Texas, Connecticut, North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. , Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. , and California as well as internationally in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia. SAFE HARBOR Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. 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Clinical Data does not undertake any obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures in Clinical Data's SEC reports, including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, and fiscal 2005, 2006, and 2007 quarterly reports on Forms 10-QSB and 10-Q. |
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