deCODE Discovers a Gene Linked to Risk of Kidney Stones and Osteoporosis
29 Juin 2009 - 2:14PM
PR Newswire (US)
Findings Offer Promising Target for Drugs to Better Regulate
Calcium Metabolism, Are Integrated Into deCODEme(TM) REYKJAVIK,
Iceland, June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A discovery by
scientists at deCODE genetics (NASDAQ:DCGN) and academic colleagues
from Iceland, the Netherlands and Denmark has pointed to a common
biological mechanism contributing to both kidney stones and
decreased bone mineral density (BMD). About 60% of the population
carry two copies of a single-letter variation in the human genome
(SNP) on chromosome 21, putting them at roughly 65% greater
likelihood of developing kidney stones than those who carry no
copies. This single variant may thus account for more than a
quarter of the incidence of kidney stones, and in women carriers it
is also associated with decreased BMD at the hip and spine. The
study, which involved the analysis of the genomes of some 50,000
patients and controls, is published in the online edition of Nature
Genetics at http://www.nature.com/ng and will appear in upcoming
print edition of the journal. The SNP is in the gene encoding
claudin 14 (CLDN14), a protein expressed in the kidney and one of a
family of membrane proteins that regulate the passage of ions and
small solutes between cells. As calcium is a key component both of
most kidney stones and of bone, the deCODE team examined the
relationship between CLDN14 and the metabolism of calcium. The
results suggest that the SNP may be contributing to increased
calcium excretion in urine, a major risk factor for kidney stones
and also a sign of bone loss. "This is an exciting finding because
it uncovers a highly plausible common biological mechanism leading
to two diseases. This offers a potentially attractive new pathway
for drug discovery, and the next task is to build on our
understanding of how this SNP increases risk of these diseases and
how this pathway could be targeted therapeutically to address this
risk. As ever, deCODEme subscribers will see this new variant in
their profiles, and we look forward building on this discovery,"
said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE. About kidney stones Kidney
stones are small crystals formed of dissolved minerals, mainly
calcium, that form in the kidneys. Smaller stones can simply be
passed through urination, though larger ones can block the urinary
tract, causing considerable pain and bleeding. Kidney stones affect
some 5% of women and 10% of men in the industrialized world. Larger
stones can be detected with ultrasound screening and broken up to
facilitate passage, though the recurrence rate is high. deCODE
would like to thank all those who participated in this study, as
well as the collaborating clinicians and scientists from the
Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland; Radboud
University Nijmegen Medical Centre in Nijmegen, Netherlands; Nordic
Bioscience A/S in Herlev, Denmark; and the Center for Clinical and
Basic Research A/S in Ballerup, Denmark. 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
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, 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 focused
disease scans, integrating the genetic variants included in these
tests and those linked to another twenty common diseases, as well
as for our new deCODEme Cardio(TM) and deCODEme Cancer(TM) scans,
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 sufficient financing to continue as a
going concern, 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, our ability to form
collaborative relationships, 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:
deCODE genetics Edward Farmer +44(0)7796-010107 Gisli Arnason
+354-570-1900 Joy Bessenger +1-212-481-3891 DATASOURCE: deCODE
genetics CONTACT: Contacts: deCODE genetics, Edward Farmer,
+44(0)7796-010107, ; Gisli Arnason, +354-570-1900, ; Joy Bessenger,
+1-212-481-3891,
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