deCODE Discovers Four New Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, September 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
- Findings Further Increase Power of DNA-Based Testing to Identify Men at
Substantially Increased Risk, and Will be Integrated Into the deCODE
ProstateCancer(TM) Test
deCODE genetics (Nasdaq:DCGN) today announced that a team of its
scientists and academic colleagues from Finland, Spain, the Netherlands and
the United States have today published the discovery of four novel
single-letter variations in the sequence of the human genome (SNPs)
conferring increased risk of prostate cancer. This is the sixth set of risk
factors for prostate cancer that deCODE has found. The SNPs are located on
chromosomes 3q21, 19q13, as well as on 8q24, a region of the genome where
deCODE and others have previously discovered risk factors for prostate,
breast, colon and bladder cancer. The deCODE team followed up these latest
findings with a population-based analysis in Iceland of these and other
published sequence variants linked to risk of prostate cancer. This analysis
demonstrates that by testing for these published SNPs it is possible to
identify the approximately 1.5% of men who are at more than 2.5 times the
average risk of the disease.
"With these latest findings we continue to extend our understanding of
the genetic risk factors for prostate cancer, the second most common cause of
cancer deaths in men. Using our ability to put these SNPs in a
population-wide context, we show that it is now possible to identify those
who are at more than 30% lifetime risk, independent of other standard risk
factors such as age and family history. By incorporating this new,
personalized gauge of susceptibility into our arsenal for improving
prevention and early diagnosis, we can more effectively and accurately
identify those men who would benefit most from intensive screening. We are
pleased to be incorporating these latest markers into our deCODE
ProstateCancer(TM) test," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
Today's findings result from the analysis of several large datasets:
deCODE's genome-wide SNP data from tens of thousands of patients and healthy
controls from Iceland; sequencing data from regions in the genome where
deCODE and others have already discovered prostate cancer risk factors; and
publicly available data from other case-control cohorts from the US, France
and Finland. Data from a combined total of more than 60,000 patients and
healthy control subjects were included in the study.
The paper, 'Genome-wide association and replication studies identify four
variants associated with prostate cancer susceptibility,' is published today
in the online edition of Nature Genetics, at http://www.nature.com/ng.
Acknowledgements
deCODE wishes to thank the patients and control subjects from many
countries whose participation made this work possible. This study was funded
in part by the European Union's PROMARK and CancerGene grants to deCODE; by
the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and by the Academy of Finland, Sigrid
Juselius Foundation, Finnish Cancer Organizations, and Pirkanmaa Hospital.
About deCODE
deCODE is a global leader in analysing and understanding the human
genome. The company has identified key variations in the sequence of the
genome conferring increased risk of major public health challenges from
cardiovascular disease to cancer, and employs its gene discovery engine to
develop DNA-based tests to assess individual risk of common diseases; to
license its tests and intellectual property to partners; and to provide
comprehensive, leading- edge contract services to companies and research
institutions around the globe. Through its CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratory
deCODE offers a growing range of DNA-based tests for gauging risk and
empowering prevention of common diseases, including 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. Through its pioneering personal genome
analysis service deCODEme(TM), the company enables individuals to better
understand their risk of dozens of common diseases and to learn about their
ancestry and other traits. Through its chemistry and biology units deCODE has
also developed a therapeutic product portfolio, which includes DG041, an
antiplatelet compound being developed for the prevention of arterial
thrombosis; DG051, a compound 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. The company intends to partner or directly outlicense these
programs. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.SM Visit us
on the web at http://www.decode.com; at http://www.decodediagnostics.com; 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, the effect of
a potential delisting of our common stock from The Nasdaq Global Market, our
ability to develop and market diagnostic products, the level of third party
reimbursement for our products, 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
+354-570-1900
edward.farmer@decode.is

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

Gisli Arnason
+354-570-1900
gisli.arnason@decode.is

SOURCE DeCODE Genetics Inc

Contacts: deCODE genetics, Edward Farmer, +354-570-1900,
edward.farmer@decode.is; Joy Bessenger, +1-212-481-3891,
joy.bessenger@decode.is; Gisli Arnason, +354-570-1900,
gisli.arnason@decode.is