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Grant Life Sciences Terminates Negotiations with Diagnostic Technologies Ltd. to Develop and Commercialize Grant's Serum-Based Cervical Cancer-Diagnostic Platform.


Grant also says it expects to soon complete its agreement with Alphagenics for its DNA-based HPV HPV human papillomavirus.

HPV
abbr.
human papilloma virus


Human papilloma virus (HPV) 
 cervical cancer Cervical Cancer Definition

Cervical cancer is a disease in which the cells of the cervix become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors.
 test

LOS ANGELES -- Grant Life Sciences ('Grant') Inc. (OTC OTC

See: Over-the-counter.


OTC

See over-the-counter market (OTC).
 BB: GLIF GLIF Global Lambda Integrated Facility
GLIF GuideLine Interchange Format
) announced today that it has decided to terminate further negotiations with Israel-based Diagnostic Technologies Ltd. (DTL DTL Detail
DTL Drift Tube Linac
DTL Diode-Transistor Logic
DTL Designated Transit List (Sprint-ATM)
DTL Deferred Tax Liability (finance/accounting)
DTL Deputy Team Leader
) related to Grant's serum-based cervical cancer-diagnostic technology (U.S. Patent No. 6,743,593) as announced in April 2006, and subsequently extended on October 15, 2006. An extension of the MOU (Minutes Of Usage) A metric used to compute billing and/or statistics for telephone calls or other network use.  between Grant and DTL was made necessary because DTL's business activities were significantly hindered as a result of the 2006 Israel/Lebanon conflict, which occurred between July 12 and August 14, 2006.

"We will continue to develop our serum-based test for cervical cancer while seeking an appropriate development-and-commercialization partner," said Hun-Chi Lin, Ph.D., Grant's President and Chief Scientist. "Nevertheless, we are very pleased with the near-term opportunity afforded us by our relationship with Alphagenics and its DNA-based HPV test for cervical cancer."

On June 13, 2007, Grant announced that it had signed a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with Alphagenics Diaco Biotechnologies S.r.l. (Italy) to exclusively in-license the manufacturing and marketing rights to Alphagenics' molecular diagnostic test for Human Papilloma Viruses (HPVs) in Greater China and the United States and non-exclusively in Europe, India, Australia and Japan. The Alphagenics HPV test is a DNA-based diagnostic that uses standard molecular diagnostic equipment found in most commercial laboratories.

Alphagenics' HPV DNA test complements the HPV blood test that Grant Life Sciences is developing--a serum-based immunological test to detect cervical dysplasia Cervical dysplasia
Dysplasia is the abnormal growth of the epithelial cells. This is what a Pap smear will detect in the cervix.

Mentioned in: Pelvic Exam

cervical dysplasia
. The majority of cervical cancer is caused by HPVs. Of the more-than-100 types of HPV approximately 10 have been linked to cervical cancer. While a serum-based test to detect precancerous precancerous /pre·can·cer·ous/ (-kan´ser-us) pertaining to a pathologic process that tends to become malignant.

pre·can·cer·ous
adj.
 evidence and cancer of the cervix is still viewed by Grant as the preferred test-methodology to address the needs of the developing world, molecular (DNA DNA: see nucleic acid.
DNA
 or deoxyribonucleic acid

One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes.
) testing is currently the approved test protocol in both the U.S. and Europe.

"Our introduction of the Alphagenics HPV test would not only allow commercial laboratories to provide molecular testing but also would complement the current introduction of vaccines against HPVs," said Dr. Hun-Chi Lin, President and Chief Scientist, Grant Life Sciences. "The current approved vaccine in the U.S. provides for inoculation against four types of HPV for use in girls and women 9-to-26 years of age, who presumably pre·sum·a·ble  
adj.
That can be presumed or taken for granted; reasonable as a supposition: presumable causes of the disaster.
 have not been exposed to the viruses. However, women who have reached sexual maturity and have not been exposed to one of the four HPV-types may benefit from the vaccination, according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) consists of fifteen advisors to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), selected by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to provide advice and guidance on the most effective  (ACIP ACIP Cardiology A clinical trial–Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot Study that evaluated 3 therapeutic strategies2 for ↓ myocardial ischemia during exercise testing. ). Consequently, the Alphagenics test can be used by the balance of the female population to determine exposure and the possible use of the vaccine if found negative. Further both vaccines on the market (GSK's vaccine is approved for Australia for ages 10-to-45 and Merck's vaccine is approved in the U.S. for ages 9-to-26) only confer protection against HPV oncogenic oncogenic /on·co·gen·ic/ (-jen´ik) giving rise to tumors or causing tumor formation; said especially of tumor-inducing viruses.

on·co·gen·ic or on·cog·e·nous
adj.
 types 16 and 18. While these types are predominant (approximately 60+%) in the Caucasian market, they are not the dominant types found in the Asian, African, Indian, and Hispanic populations. Fortunately, the Alphagenics test is designed to test for all the serotypes of oncogenic HPV."

In addition, Dr. Lin said that the Alphagenics test can be used in the current gynecological gynecological /gy·ne·co·log·i·cal/ (-kah-loj´i-k'l) gynecologic.  regimen to help qualify Pap test results in the case of ambiguous readings, at a cost less than the current approved molecular test. Grant expects to launch the Alphagenics HPV DNA-based test in the Asian and Indian markets during the fourth quarter of this year.

About Grant Life Sciences Inc.

Grant Life Sciences Inc. (OTC BB:GLIF.OB - News), a development stage company, engages in the research, development, marketing, and sale of diagnostic kits for the screening, monitoring, and diagnosis of diseases with emphasis on women's health, infectious diseases, and cancers.

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement

With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual future results of Grant Life Sciences could differ significantly from those statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as the inability to finance the company's operations or expansion, inability to hire and retain qualified personnel, changes in the general economic climate, including rising interest rates and unanticipated events such as terrorist activities, results of clinical trials, and market acceptance of the Company's products. In some cases, "forward-looking statements" can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," or other comparable terminology. Although Grant Life Sciences believes that the expectations reflected in the "forward-looking" statements are reasonable, such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other person, that such "forward-looking statements" will be achieved. Grant Life Sciences undertakes no duty to update any of the "forward-looking statements," whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of the foregoing, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such "forward-looking statements." For further risk factors associated with our Company, review our SEC filings.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2007, Gale Group. All rights reserved.

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Date:Aug 13, 2007
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