New Gene Methylation Test for Prostate Cancer Available

    RARITAN, N.J., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Veridex, LLC announced today that
 its licensing collaborator, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
 (LabCorp), has commercially launched a new gene methylation test for
 prostate cancer. The new assay uses the biological specificity of 'DNA
 methylation' in prostate cancer, detecting the methylation of the gene
 GST-Pi. Methylation is a modification of DNA that occurs primarily in
 cancer. Veridex is developing the methylation markers in this tissue assay,
 GST-Pi, along with other markers, for a urine-based screening test for
 prostate cancer.
 
     Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men in the
 U.S., with more than 230,000 cases diagnosed annually.
 
     LabCorp licensed the methylation technology from Veridex in 2007.
 Veridex licensed this technology from OncoMethylome Sciences, S.A. (OMS).
 
     About Veridex
 
     Veridex, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company, develops cancer diagnostic
 products that will enable earlier disease detection as well as more
 accurate staging, monitoring and therapeutic selection. The company is
 initially developing two complementary product lines: CellSearch(TM) assays
 that identify, enumerate and characterize circulating tumor cells directly
 from whole blood; and GeneSearch(TM) assays that use molecular technology
 to diagnose, stage and more accurately characterize tumors. For additional
 information, please visit www.veridex.com
 
 
 

SOURCE Veridex, LLC