IntegraGen obtains European rights for MODY diabetes genetic testing and plans initial testing service for Germany next year

Paris, France; 8 November 2004 ….. IntegraGen, the personalized medicines company, announced today that it has signed a licensing deal with Correlagen, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to provide MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young) gene testing in Europe. IntegraGen has established a subsidiary, IntegraGen GmbH, in Bonn, Germany, which will provide a testing and counseling service initially to the German market. The GmbH subsidiary is expected to become operational in 2005.

Commenting on this exciting development for the Company, Dr Jan Mous, CEO of IntegraGen said:
“IntegraGen intends to become a leader in the field of genetic diagnostics of complex diseases and the provision of a commercial molecular diagnostics lab so early in the Company’s development reflects our dedication to that goal. In the first instance, our focus will be on the German market and, once the genetic testing/genetic counseling model has been established, we plan to expand these diagnostic offerings into other European countries.”

Maturity onset diabetes of the young is a less common type of diabetes, with a similar profile to type 2 diabetes. MODY usually appears in young adults, typically in people in their 20s and is often unrecognized. Unlike other forms of diabetes, where genetics is only one of several contributory risk factors, MODY is a strongly inherited condition.

Dr Jan Mous added:
“Medically, it can be difficult to distinguish between different forms of MODY and other types of diabetes. However, clinically, they should be treated differently. Therefore a better and faster means to diagnose mutations in different MODY genes is needed and this is what we will be able to offer to the medical community, in the first instance, in Germany. ”

Correlagen, a molecular diagnostics company, licensed world-wide rights from the University of Chicago to the patent covering the diagnosis of MODY 1 (HNF4A), MODY 3 (HNF1A) and MODY 5 (HNF1B) and has developed MODY gene tests that are being performed in the United States. “By granting rights to IntegraGen to commercialize MODY tests in Europe, Correlagen is furthering its goal of making important gene tests broadly available for clinical practice” said Joyce Samet, Correlagen’s Senior Vice President.


On behalf of Correlagen, David Margulies, Correlagen’s Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We are pleased to have found a European partner with an approach to using clinical diagnostics as a discovery platform that is so complementary to our own.”


IntegraGen is focused on developing informative genetic diagnostic tests for several common diseases, including autism and other forms of diabetes. Using its expertise in genetic analysis and unique GenomeHIP technology, the Company is working to identify genes associated with complex diseases. It will then translate this information into the development and commercialisation of further clinically relevant diagnostic tests. The Company plans to have its first in-house developed genetic test for autism on the market in 2006.

- ENDS -

About IntegraGen

IntegraGen SA uses its unique genomic analysis expertise to identify genes associated with complex diseases and to develop diagnostic 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's in-house programs are focused on identifying genes involved in neurological disorders, including autism and bi-polar disorder, and metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The unique approach of the company is based on its powerful technology platform and the belief that identifying genes for human diseases can best be achieved by analyzing human populations in the context of a thorough understanding of the biology behind the disease.


The company's strategy is to develop molecular diagnostic tools for selected disease areas with high medical need. To this end, IntegraGen is also looking to access DNA collections and to build gene discovery collaborations in the areas of autism, bi-polar disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Founded in July 2000, IntegraGen has 27 employees and is based in the French Genopole of Evry, near Paris, France.

More information can be found at www.integragen.com


For further information please contact:


Media enquiries

Northbank Communications

Rebecca Todd, Account Manager

Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8157

Mobile: +44 (0)7801 573073

E-mail: r.todd@northbankcommunications.com  


Sue Charles, CEO

Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8152

Mobile: +44 (0)7968 726585

E-mail: s.charles@northbankcommunications.com  

At IntegraGen

Dr Jan Mous, CEO

Tel: +33 (0)1 60 91 09 00

Email: jan.mous@integragen.com