deCODE Discovers Second Common Genetic Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke

deCODE Discovers Second Common Genetic Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation and
Stroke
Will be Integrated Into deCODE AF(TM) DNA-based Risk Assessment Test, and Into
the deCODEme(TM) and deCODEme Cardio(TM) Scans

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scientists at
deCODE genetics (Nasdaq: DCGN) and colleagues from Europe and the United
States today report the discovery of a common single-letter variant in the
sequence of the human genome (SNP) conferring increased risk of atrial
fibrillation (AF) and stroke. The findings will be integrated directly into
the deCODE AF(TM) reference laboratory test for gauging individual risk of AF
and stroke and helping to identify stroke patients who may benefit from
enhanced monitoring for AF. The study is published online today in Nature
Genetics at http://www.nature.com/ng.
The new SNP is in the ZFHX3 gene on chromosome 16q22, and the more than
one third of people of European descent who carry one copy are at
approximately 20% greater risk of AF and cardioembolic stroke than are
individuals who carry none. AF is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia,
and is a major risk factor for stroke. Because AF is often intermittent and
difficult to detect, gauging genetic susceptibility can help doctors to
decide which of their stroke patients might benefit from longer-term
monitoring for AF following a stroke. Those with stroke due to AF may be
given different therapy than they would otherwise. This is the purpose of
deCODE AF(TM), at the heart of which is the major AF and stroke variant
discovered by deCODE on 4q25. Indeed today's findings are the result of
deCODE's program to build on this work and to find new risk variants. After
expanding their genome-wide association study in Iceland, the deCODE team
took the top SNPs outside the 4q25 region and typed them in case-control
cohorts from Iceland, Norway and the United States. This confirmed the ZFHX3
SNP as a risk variant for AF. Analysis in stroke cohorts from Iceland,
Germany, Sweden and the UK demonstrated that this SNP was associated with
increased risk of stroke, particularly cardioembolic stroke.
"This is an important discovery and all the more gratifying because we
can integrate it straight into a test that is already helping to improve
patient care in the clinic.
As with our 4q25 variant, this latest discovery has been replicated in
numerous populations by us and others, and the connection to cardioembolic
stroke is yet further evidence that we are putting our finger on an important
pathway involved in AF and stroke risk. The ability to routinely test for
these risk factors means that we can understand whom we should screen
intensively for AF and then prescribe the drugs most suited to the cause of a
particular patient's disease. This is the sort of personalized medicine that
genetics is enabling - individualized care that may mean not only better
outcomes but significant potential savings to the healthcare system.
Discoveries like this are the foundation upon which this transformation is
being made," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
deCODE and the authors wish to thank the participants who took part in
this study and made it possible. Financial support for this study was
provided by US National Institutes of Health grants HL075266 and U01 HL65962
and American Heart Association grant 0940116N; by the German Federal Ministry
of Education and Research (01GI9909/3), by the German Migraine & Headache
Society (DMKG), and by unrestricted grants of equal share from Astra Zeneca,
Berlin Chemie, Boots Healthcare, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, McNeil Pharma, MSD Sharp
& Dohme and Pfizer to the University of Muenster.
About deCODE
deCODE is a bio-pharmaceutical company developing DNA-based tests and
drugs to improve the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of common diseases.
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. 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 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
+44-7796-010107
edward.farmer@decode.is

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

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

SOURCE DeCODE Genetics Inc

Contacts: deCODE genetics, Edward Farmer, +44-7796-010107,
edward.farmer@decode.is. Gisli Arnason, +354-570-1900,
gisli.arnason@decode.is. Joy Bessenger, +1-212-481-3891,
joy.bessenger@decode.is