Tm BIOSCIENCE TO DEVELOP GENETIC TEST FOR MELANOMA PREDISPOSITION
- Universal Array based test to be developed in collaboration with
U of T researcher -
TORONTO, ON, September 12, 2002
— Tm Bioscience Corporation (TSX-Venture: TMC) today announced the signing of an agreement with the University of Toronto and Dr. David Hogg to produce a
genetic test for melanoma skin cancer predisposition. The test will be created using Tm Bioscience’s
proprietary Tm 100 Universal Array genetic test platform.
Dr. Hogg and his colleagues at the University of Toronto will incorporate known and novel genetic mutations
into a melanoma predisposition panel. Under this agreement, Tm Bioscience will provide expertise in assay
development on the Universal Array platform to Dr. Hogg’s research group in order to develop a genetic
screening tool that will allow rapid and accurate genotyping of the identified mutations. The test will then be
validated using the library of clinical samples collected by Dr. Hogg. Development and validation of a
prototype test is anticipated to take 12-18 months.
“Dr. Hogg is world-renowned for his research relating genetics to melanoma predisposition,” said Dr. Roman
Zastawny, Vice President, Product Development at Tm Bioscience. “The flexibility of the Universal Array
allows researchers with genetic content, such as Dr. Hogg, to develop and commercialize affordable and
accurate genetic tests based on their discoveries. This agreement demonstrates how our Universal Array
technology can be applied and will lead to the creation of a broad series of genetic tests.”
“We are looking forward to applying the results of our research towards creating a test that could reduce the
incidence of advanced melanoma,” said Dr. Hogg. “The incidence of melanoma is increasing at a faster rate
than any other cancer. Our test will serve this large and rapidly growing clinical need, alerting higher risk
individuals to take appropriate precautions to avoid developing melanoma. In addition, regular examination of
high-risk individuals could lead to earlier detection of melanoma, which in turn leads to much better treatment
outcomes.”
According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, melanoma strikes people of all ages, all races, all economic
levels and both sexes. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, and is already the most common
cancer for women aged 25 to 29 and the second most common cancer for women aged 30 to 34.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
James Smith
The Equicom Group Inc.
416-815-0700 ext.229
jsmith@equicomgroup.com
www.tmbioscience.com
www.equicomgroup.com
About Tm Bioscience – Putting the Human Genome to Work™
Tm Bioscience is a DNA-based diagnostics company developing a suite of genetic tests. Tm Bioscience’s
product pipeline includes tests for genetic mutations related to hematology, cystic fibrosis, toxicology, and
other debilitating genetic disorders. The lead product from Tm Bioscience is the Tm100 Universal Array, a
microarray “operating system” capable of combining any set of 100 single DNA tests and performing them
simultaneously in a single reaction. The Tm100 universal microarray is accurate, fast, flexible, economical and
suitable as an industry standard. Tm Bioscience is located in Toronto, Ontario. Additional information about
Tm Bioscience can be found at www.tmbioscience.com.
About the University of Toronto
Canada’s largest university, the University of Toronto is also one of North America’s leading and most
innovative research-intensive institutions. More than 2,500 researchers at the University of Toronto and its
partner hospital research institutes conduct over $2 million worth of research every day in the life sciences,
physical sciences, humanities and social sciences. The University’s researchers and scholars have been
recognized for their excellence through such awards and prizes as the Nobel Prize, Guggenheim Fellowships,
Royal Society of London fellowships, the NSERC Gold Medal and Killam Prize.
CONTACT:
James Smith Alan Coley
Investor Inquiries Vice President, Investor Relations
416-815-0700 ext.229 416-593-4323 ext.237
416-815-0080 fax 416-593-1066 fax
jsmith@equicomgroup.com acoley@tmbioscience.com
The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
