RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metabolon, Inc., the world leading metabolomics company announced today the signing of several exclusive multi-year, royalty-based Research Collaboration and Licensing agreements with Patia Biopharma, a Mexican biotech company working to make personalized preventive medicine a reality in Mexico and Latin America. The Research Collaboration provides Metabolon’s Quantose IR™ technology for use in several Diabetes Prevention Studies in Mexico. The License agreement provides exclusive access in Mexico to Metabolon’s prediabetes test technology for assessing insulin resistance in the general population of Mexico through Patia and Clinica Ruiz’s network of laboratories.
Under the terms of the agreements, Patia and its affiliates will use Metabolon’s Quantose IR™ technology in unprecedented large-scale studies in Mexico to test for prediabetes in up to 3 million overweight or obese adults and secondary school students who are obese and/or have a family history of diabetes. The goal of these studies is to detect prediabetes early and prescribe treatment to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes. Testing will be carried out over four years, beginning with pilot studies in 2014.
The Metabolon prediabetes test uses a multi-analyte assay that requires only a single fasting blood sample. All testing will be performed at the laboratories of Clinica Ruiz, an ANAB-accredited laboratory, utilizing its state-of-the-art mass spectrometry analysis technology and a laboratory developed test (LDT) derived from Metabolon’s Quantose IR™ technology.
According to a recent article in The Economist, diabetes is one of the top two causes of death in Mexico, responsible for 70,000 deaths annually. “We intend to reverse the growing incidence of diabetes and impact public health policy in Mexico, and perhaps throughout Latin America,” commented Laureano Simon, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Patia. “The Quantose IR™ technology provides us with an important new tool to identify patients with prediabetes so that appropriate treatment can be prescribed to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.”
“The licensing of Quantose IR™ technology to Patia is a key milestone in our expansion in obesity-related diagnostics outside of the U.S.,” stated John Ryals, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Metabolon. “We are delighted to be partnering in this visionary program with Patia in Mexico, with the goal of impacting healthcare policy in Mexico and throughout Latin America. These two trials are the largest of this type ever conducted, and we look forward to having the results made public and published in peer-reviewed medical journals. What's more, commercialization of our test for prediabetes in the general populations in Mexico through Patia and Clinica Ruiz could lead to positive outcomes as it relates to prevention of the progression to type 2 diabetes through appropriate therapies.”
About Quantose IR™
Quantose IR™ is a novel blood test for prediabetes that reflects insulin resistance. The test is based on three recently identified non-glycemic biomarkers and insulin, and is used as an aid in the detection of prediabetes. By reflecting insulin resistance, Quantose IR™ provides clinicians with a useful tool that may identify prediabetes earlier than traditional glycemic measures.
About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. is the world leader in the field of metabolomics, developing and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Metabolon has a broad pipeline of laboratory developed tests in obesity-related conditions and cancer. Metabolon’s expertise is embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed more than 3,000 client studies on behalf of more than 550 customers. For more information visit www.metabolon.com or email ebutton@metabolon.com or call 919-595-2202.
About Patia
Patia Biopharma is a Mexican company focused on promoting personalized preventive medicine across Mexico and Latin America. Patia offers to the medical community a vast array of genomic, metabolomic and proteomic tests for risk assessment and early diagnosis, which support early interventions in patients with cancer and diabetes. For more information visit www.patia.com.mx, email contacto@patia.com.mx or call 8000-1983.
Cautionary Note about Forward-Looking Statements
The materials provided herein that are not historical facts are or might constitute projections and other forward-looking statements regarding future events that involve substantial risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or if any of these assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Metabolon could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties, and assumptions referred to above include, but are not limited to: the uncertainties inherent in biochemical research and development; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding whether and when to approve diagnostic tests; our and our distributors’ ability to successfully commercialize and market both new and existing products; governmental laws and regulations affecting health care, including regarding access, pricing and reimbursement of diagnostic tests; the strength of our intellectual property portfolio; our history of losses; whether we are able to achieve or sustain profitability; our highly competitive industry; our ability to compete effectively; security and privacy risks; and our ability to continue to innovate and provide products and services that are useful to our clients, among other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions.
