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- Former Company Group Chairman of Johnson & Johnson Brings Extensive Experience into Personalised Healthcare Company - Paris, France, 10th January 2006 … IntegraGen, the personalized healthcare company focused on the development and delivery of genetic tests for complex diseases announced today the appointment of Gerard Vaillant as non-executive Director. Gerard Vaillant brings more than 35 years of experience in commercial diagnostic companies, most notably as Company Group Chairman of Johnson & Johnson and Chairman of Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. Welcoming Gerard Vaillant as a new board member, Dr.Jan Mous, President and CEO said: "I am very proud to announce the appointment of such a prominent person to the board of Directors of IntegraGen. Gerard brings both the experience and the strategic vision to support us at a turning point in the life of our company, when we move into the commercialization phase of our prognostic genetic tests, IntegraTestsTM" During his career, Gerard Vaillant has held numerous prestigious positions in the healthcare sector including Group Chairman of Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Chairman of Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. and Therakos, Inc., Worldwide President of Lifescan, VP of J&J, and Managing Director of Ortho-Diagnostics Systems in France. He also sits in the boards of Sensor For Medicine and Science,Inc (US), Luminex (US) and Tecan (CH). Commenting on his appointment at IntegraGen, Gerard Vaillant added: “Since its creation 5 years ago, IntegraGen has reached significant development milestones in its focus areas of Diabetes, Obesity and Autism and has recently opened its first Expert Centre, in Bonn, Germany for MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young) diabetes testing. I am delighted to join the company at such an exciting time to help them build a world leading position in the predictive medicine business.” IntegraGen is focused on the development of diagnostic and prognostic genetic tests for a range of complex diseases using its novel technology platform for gene identification (Genome HIP™). IntegraGen recently completed a €8 million financing that will be used to further develop the Company’s genetic tests and to launch them into the market. The company plans to bring its genetic test for autism to market in 2006 and anticipates launching a genetic test for late onset type 2 Diabetes in 2008. The Company has also several other proprietary tests under development and partnerships in other disease areas, including a collaboration with Aventis for the discovery of genes associated with schizophrenia. - ENDS - Notes to editors: About IntegraGenIntegraGen SA uses its unique genomic analysis expertise to identify genes associated with complex diseases and to develop diagnostic and predictive genetic tests. The Company applies its innovative gene mapping technology, GenomeHIP® (Genome Hybrid Identity Profiling), to rapidly discover genetic loci that are implicated in complex, multi-factorial diseases. GenomeHIP® is a major advance that overcomes the limitations of existing marker based familial linkage study methods.
IntegraGen is applying its discoveries to develop a series of innovative IntegraTests™ and is poised to become a leader in the rapidly growing field of predictive medicine. The Company will be a fully integrated provider of genetic tests that can be used to predict, prevent, diagnose and tailor personalized treatments for complex diseases. Testing will be provided as a service through Expert Centers, which will also provide expert analysis and genetic counseling from an accredited MD-geneticist. The Company’s first Expert Center was established earlier this year in Bonn, Germany, to provide the Company’s first testing service for MODY diabetes (Mature Onset Diabetes of the Young). The Company’s strategy is to develop molecular diagnostic tools for selected disease areas with high medical need. IntegraGen’s in-house programs are focused on neurological disorders, including autism and bi-polar disorder, and metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Founded in July 2000, IntegraGen has 34 employees and is based in the French Genopole of Evry, near Paris, France, and in Bonn, Germany. More information can be found at www.integragen.com For further information please contact:
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