deCODE Discovers First Genetic Variant Conferring Increased Risk of Essential Tremor
Published In: Europe, Medical, United States of America 
Monday, February 2, 2009 9:41 AM
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REYKJAVIK, Iceland, February 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Scientists from deCODE genetics (Nasdaq:DCGN) today report the discovery
of the first variation in the sequence of the human genome ever shown to
confer increased risk of essential tremor. The single-letter variant (or SNP)
was discovered by analyzing the genomes of a total of more than 16,000
patients and healthy subjects from Iceland, Austria, Germany and the United
States. It is located on the long arm of chromosome 15 in the LINGO1 gene,
which encodes a protein that has been shown to affect how neurons are formed
and signal each other. This makes the finding even more significant, for
although essential tremor is a relatively common neurological condition, to
date little has been known about the biology behind it. Variations in LINGO1
may contribute to neuronal degeneration and to inhibit normal processes of
neuronal repair that may be involved in essential tremor, and the protein
itself may provide a potentially effective target for the development of
drugs to treat the condition. The paper, "Variant in the sequence of the
LINGO1 gene confers risk of essential tremor," is published today in the
online edition of Nature Genetics, at http://www.nature.com/ng.

"This discovery is an encouraging direct hit. It offers a clear example
of how genetics can both increase our understanding of what a disease is and
directly point the way to the development of new therapies. This SNP is in a
gene involved in many of the processes that one would expect to be perturbed
in patients with essential tremor. Because LINGO1 has be shown to have a
negative impact on neuronal development and survival, inhibiting it with a
small molecule drug may provide an effective approach for developing a
treatment for the severe forms of essential tremor. We are very excited to
have taken the first step in this process," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of
deCODE.

Essential tremor is characterized by involuntary trembling of the arms
and hands, and in many cases of the head and voice as well. It is frequently
mild enough that many patients do not seek any medical attention, though in
severe cases it can impair eating, drinking, writing and other daily
activities, and some patients with the most debilitating symptoms will seek
surgery to control it. It appears in some individuals when they are in their
twenties and thirties, but becomes more common in later life and is believed
to affect as many as 1 in 7 people over the age of 65. Approximately 20% of
the general population carry one copy of the at-risk version of the SNP and
5% carry two copies, corresponding to a roughly 55% and 140% higher
likelihood of developing the condition than individuals who carry no copies
of the risk variant.

deCODE and its collaborators at Vienna, Tubingen and Emory universities
would like to thank the individuals who took part in this study.

About decode

deCODE is a bio-pharmaceutical company developing drugs and DNA-based
tests to improve the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of common diseases.
Its lead therapeutic programs, which leverage the company's expertise in
chemistry and structural biology, include DG041, an antiplatelet compound
being developed for the prevention of arterial thrombosis; DG051 and DG031,
compounds targeting the leukotriene pathway for the prevention of heart
attack; and DG071 and a platform for other PDE4 modulators with therapeutic
applications in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. deCODE is a global
leader in human genetics, and has identified key variations in the genome
(SNPs) conferring increased risk of major public health challenges from
cardiovascular disease to cancer. Based upon these discoveries deCODE has
brought to market a growing range of DNA-based tests for gauging risk and
empowering prevention of common diseases. Through its CLIA-registered
laboratory, deCODE is offers deCODE T2(TM) for type 2 diabetes; deCODE AF(TM)
for atrial fibrillation and stroke; deCODE MI(TM) for heart attack; deCODE
ProstateCancer(TM) for prostate cancer; deCODE Glaucoma(TM) for a major type
of glaucoma; and deCODE BreastCancer(TM), for the common forms of breast
cancer. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics (SM). Visit
us on the web at http://www.decode.com; on our diagnostics site at
http://www.decodediagnostics.com; for our pioneering personal genome analysis
service and new Cardio and Cancer scans, integrating the genetic variants
included in these tests and those linked to another twenty common diseases,
at http://www.decodeme.com; and on our blog at http://www.decodeyou.com.

Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to future
plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results, and the timing of events, to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These
risks and uncertainties include, among others, those relating to our ability
to obtain financing and to form collaborative relationships, the effect of a
potential delisting of our common stock from The Nasdaq Global Market,
uncertainty regarding potential future deterioration in the market for
auction rate securities which could negatively affect our cash position and
result in additional permanent impairment charges, our ability to develop and
market diagnostic products, the level of third party reimbursement for our
products, risks related to preclinical and clinical development of
pharmaceutical products, including the identification of compounds and the
completion of clinical trials, the effect of government regulation and the
regulatory approval processes, market acceptance, our ability to obtain and
protect intellectual property rights for our products, dependence on
collaborative relationships, the effect of competitive products, industry
trends and other risks identified in deCODE's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the risk factors
identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to
those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. deCODE undertakes no obligation to
update or alter these forward-looking statements as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.


Contacts:
Edward Farmer
+354-570-2819
edward.farmer@decode.is

Gisli Arnason
+354-570-1825
gisli.arnason@decode.is

Joy Bessenger
+1-212-481-3891
joy.bessenger@decode.is



SOURCE DeCODE Genetics Inc


 
Monday, February 2, 2009 9:41 AM

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