Oxidative Stress Assay Shows Promise in Predicting Coronary Artery Disease; OXIS to Accelerate Availability of GPx Assay to Meet Growing Demand of the Research Community.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 2003 In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine The New England Journal of Medicine (New Engl J Med or NEJM) is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It is one of the most popular and widely-read peer-reviewed general medical journals in the world. , scientists report that glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was a strong predictor of the risk of cardiovascular events among the 636 patients studied. OXIS International, Inc. (OTCBB OTCBB See OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB). :OXIS) (Noveau Marche:OXIS), one of the leading suppliers of GPx assay technology, announced today that it is accelerating availability of its OXIS cGPx-340 assay kit to meet the anticipated increase in demand of the research community fueled by the study's findings. The GPx study was the second article featuring clinical evaluation clinical evaluation Medtalk An evaluation of whether a Pt has symptoms of a disease, is responding to treatment, or is having adverse reactions to therapy of an oxidative stress oxidative stress, n an imbalance of the prooxidant antioxidant ratio in which too few antioxidants are produced or ingested or too many oxidizing agents are produced. biomarker in the October 23, 2003 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The lead article in this issue described another clinical study in which the OXIS-MPO Assay was used to predict serious cardiac events, including myocardial infarction myocardial infarction: see under infarction. and death (for additional information on the OXIS-MPO study, go to: http://www.oxis.com/pubs/10_28_03.shtml). These two independent clinical-research articles reveal the potential predictive value pre·dic·tive value n. The likelihood that a positive test result indicates disease or that a negative test result excludes disease. predictive value a measure used by clinicians to interpret diagnostic test results. of OXIS assays in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease Disease that affects the heart and blood vessels. Mentioned in: Lipoproteins Test cardiovascular disease and related critical events such as heart attacks. Early diagnosis could result in intervention, treatment, and a better prognosis for patients. "These two studies are just the beginning in uncovering the key role that oxidative stress plays in development of certain human diseases," stated Ray R. Rogers, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of OXIS. "With 28 Oxidative Stress assays and over 100 additional products that support oxidative stress research, OXIS plans to continue its involvement in further studies that will expand our knowledge in this crucial area of healthcare." The GPx study concluded that low levels of glutathione peroxidase 1 activity are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease coronary artery disease, condition that results when the coronary arteries are narrowed or occluded, most commonly by atherosclerotic deposits of fibrous and fatty tissue. . The study found that a GPx test may have prognostic value, and suggested the possible value of supplements to increase activity of glutathione peroxidase 1, potentially lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Glutathione peroxidase is an enzyme involved in controlling reactive oxygen species reactive oxygen species, n molecules and ions of oxygen that have an unpaired electron, thus rendering them extremely reactive. Many cellular structures are susceptible to attack by ROS contributing to cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. , a form of oxidative stress that damages tissue. The enzyme protects cell membranes and related areas of the cell from free radical damage. The OXIS cGPx-340 Assay is a leading assay in measuring glutathione peroxidase 1. Oxidative stress is thought to be associated with other human diseases such as Alzheimer disease, liver failure liver failure Clinical medicine Liver insufficiency that results in death, requires a liver transplant, or is characterized by recovery after encephalopathy, or while awaiting a transplant; also defined as a condition with ≥ 3 of following: albumin < 3. , AIDS, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease inflammatory bowel disease n. Abbr. IBD Any of several incurable and debilitating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by inflammation and obstruction of parts of the intestine. , asthma, cancer, diabetes, HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. and Parkinson disease Parkinson Disease Definition Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder marked by tremors, rigidity, slow movements (bradykinesia), and posture instability. . OXIS is planning to evaluate additional assays in its broad oxidative stress portfolio as potential human-disease predictive markers. OXIS International, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, focuses on developing technologies and products to research, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases associated with damage from free radical and reactive oxygen species -- diseases of oxidative stress. The company holds the rights to three therapeutic classes of compounds in the area of oxidative stress and, through its Health Products division, develops, manufactures and markets products and technologies to diagnose and treat diseases caused by oxidative stress. Statements in this release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, any statements regarding beliefs, plans, estimates, projections, expectations, goals or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include the following: that glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is a strong predictor of the risk of cardiovascular events; that OXIS is accelerating availability of its OXIS cGPx-340 assay kit to meet the anticipated increased demand of the research community; the potential predictive value of OXIS research assays in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease; that early diagnosis could result in intervention, treatment, and a better prognosis for the patient; that the two studies are just the beginning in uncovering the key role that oxidative stress plays in development of certain human diseases such as heart disease; that OXIS plans to continue its involvement in further studies that will expand its knowledge in a crucial area of healthcare; and that OXIS is planning to evaluate additional assays in its broad oxidative stress portfolio as potential human-disease predictive markers. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties such as unforeseen difficulties related to the company's GPx kit and other diagnostic products; decreases in the rate of spending by the company's customers; results from further studies or tests concerning the correlation of GPx to the likelihood of a cardiovascular events; the development by the company's competitors of new competing products; and other risks indicated in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is important to note that actual outcomes could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Readers should also refer to the documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2002, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2003. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion