Hemoxymed's Diagnostic Test in Development is Useful in Differentiating Patients with Alzheimer's Disease from Patients with Geriatric Major Depre

12 февраля, 2003
VERNON HILLS, Ill.-- today announced that the diagnostic test to detect Alzheimer's disease , being developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Molecular Geriatrics Corporation , is useful to differentiate patients with geriatric major depression from patients with AD. Business Wire via NewsEdge Corporation : VERNON HILLS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2003--Hemoxymed, Inc. (OTC BB:HMYD) today announced that the diagnostic test to detect Alzheimer's disease (AD), being developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Molecular Geriatrics Corporation (MGC), is useful to differentiate patients with geriatric major depression from patients with AD. A study published in the February 2003 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry concluded that the diagnostic test being developed by MGC measures a potential biological marker that is useful in the differentiation of patients with major geriatric depression from patients with Alzheimer's disease. MGC's diagnostic test measures levels of an abnormally phosphorylated brain protein (tau protein) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Increased CSF concentrations of phosphorylated tau (ptau) protein have been suggested as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. "The results of the study reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry indicated that levels of ptau protein were significantly higher in Alzheimer's disease patients than in geriatric major depression patients and healthy comparison subjects. This is significant because differentiation of geriatric major depression from Alzheimer's disease has been hampered due to overlapping symptoms. While memory loss is a sign of AD, in many cases depression may be the cause of the memory loss. Clinicians who can differentiate their patients with AD from those with geriatric major depression have options in treating these patients," said John F. DeBernardis, Ph.D., President and COO of both MGC and Hemoxymed and a co-author of the publication. "We continue to be pleased by the performance of the diagnostic test we are developing to detect Alzheimer's disease," said Bruce N. Barron, Chairman and CEO of both MGC and Hemoxymed. "Based on the results of studies aggregating samples from over 1300 patients, our diagnostic test has been able to consistently differentiate patients with Alzheimer's disease from patients with other neurological diseases, patients with other relevant forms of dementia and normal controls with an overall sensitivity and specificity in the 85% to 95% range. We are currently exploring our options for the final clinical and regulatory development of our AD diagnostic test," concluded Mr. Barron. Molecular Geriatrics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hemoxymed, Inc., is engaged in the research and development of a diagnostic to detect Alzheimer's disease and novel therapeutics to treat Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Hemoxymed SAS, the other wholly owned subsidiary of Hemoxymed, Inc., is developing a drug delivery technology that involves a novel therapeutic process designed to increase tissue oxygenation. NOTE: "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements based on the hopes and expectations of the management of Hemoxymed and MGC. There are certain key factors that could cause future results to differ from those anticipated by the companies' managements and Boards of Directors including, but not limited to, the risk that they do not complete the development of the diagnostic test to detect Alzheimer's disease or any of their other proposed products. CONTACT: Hemoxymed, Inc. David Ellison, 847/573-8000 KEYWORD: ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL SOURCE: Hemoxymed, Inc. Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page. URL: http://www.businesswire.com <> << Copyright ©2003 Business Wire >>
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