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EANS-News: Epigenomics AG: Partnership with Laboratory Network MDI - A Successful Model for Introducing Blood-based Colorectal Cancer Early Detection

Innovative Septin9 blood-test offers new opportunities in colorectal 
cancer early detection
Efficient partnerships between laboratories
and Epigenomics in educating physicians and patients
Survey shows
high level of awareness and acceptance of Septin9 testing among 
primary care physicians
  Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
  responsible for the content of this announcement.
Marketing/Molecular diagnostics
Subtitle: Innovative Septin9 blood-test offers new opportunities in 
colorectal cancer early detection
Efficient partnerships between laboratories and Epigenomics in 
educating physicians and patients
Survey shows high level of awareness and acceptance of Septin9 
testing among primary care physicians
Press release, Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, WA, USA, June 17, 2010 
(euro adhoc) - Since the introduction of the Septin9 blood test in 
Europe by the Berlin-based molecular diagnostics company Epigenomics 
AG in October 2009, the company has relied on close partnerships with
diagnostic laboratories to introduce the test. Although commercially 
available for only a few months, Septin9 is now offered by most large
laboratory networks in Germany and Switzerland including Berlin-based
MDI - Medizinisches Diagnostisches Institut - which has a regional 
focus on the states of Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
within Germany.
"For MDI laboratory colorectal cancer early detection has very high 
priority", commented Dr. Heinz-Detlef Gremmels, Head of the MDI 
laboratory in Berlin. "By offering the Septin9 test we provide to our
clients an innovative and simple alternative to current methods of 
colorectal cancer early detection. The education in this field we 
provide to physicians together with Epigenomics has triggered many 
requests for the Septin9 test and a steadily increasing number of 
patient samples arriving at the labs for analysis with this 
colorectal cancer blood test." Dr. Gremmels added that MDI expects to
successfully establish the new Septin9 parameter within 12 months in 
northern and eastern Germany.
The Septin9 colorectal cancer blood test is designed to be convenient
and patient friendly: patients simply provide a blood sample in the 
doctor's office, e.g. as part of a regular health check-up. The blood
sample is then shipped to a diagnostic laboratory where it is tested 
for presence of the Septin9 biomarker.
Current colorectal cancer screening methods - including fecal occult 
blood tests (FOBT) and colonoscopy - are perceived to be inconvenient
and laborious and are infrequently used by individuals aged 50 and 
older who should be screened at regular intervals. Therefore the 
majority of cancers are detected in advanced stages when the chances 
of survival are greatly diminished. The blood-based Septin9 test 
provides an opportunity to motivate more people to participate in 
early detection schemes and to provide an earlier and more promising 
therapy to those individuals with cancer among them.
With the aim of educating physicians and patients in the Berlin and 
Brandenburg area about this novel approach in colorectal cancer early
detection this year, in addition to sending large numbers of 
information letters to regional physicians, MDI laboratory has been 
organizing numerous educational seminars in five German states, which
have generated positive interest among the participating medical 
professionals. In close collaboration with Epigenomics and with key 
opinion leaders in gastroenterology as speakers, the MDI laboratory 
informs attendees on colorectal cancer as well as benefits and 
methods of colorectal cancer early detection, including the 
innovative blood-based Septin9 test. These seminars offer a novel 
platform for information exchange between laboratories, 
gastroenterologists and family doctors on the topic of colorectal 
cancer. Epigenomics further supports this educational process by 
working closely with lay and trade press, and providing scientific 
contributions at medical conferences and patient-oriented educational
events.
Dr. Frieda Gerdes, Head of Marketing at Epigenomics emphasizes the 
advantages of such a partnership: "Close collaboration with the 
laboratories offers many advantages: It provides us the opportunity 
to introduce the Septin9 test to a vast group of family doctors very 
efficiently and enter into a close dialog with them. We plan to 
implement this concept also with other laboratory networks to 
introduce the Septin9 test to more doctors and patients as an 
alternative to current non-invasive methods in order to encourage 
more people to participate in colorectal cancer early detection."
MDI laboratory and Epigenomics also intend to perform scientific 
studies with the aim to support the introduction of the Septin9 test 
into medical practice and to provide important insight into 
behavioral aspects of acceptance of colorectal cancer early detection
in the target screening population.
A recently performed market survey among primary care physicians in 
Germany performed by DocCheck, an online portal for medical 
professionals, on behalf of Epigenomics shows that close cooperation 
with the laboratories is already bearing fruit: Since the 
introduction in October 2009 already 34% of all physicians surveyed 
have heard about the Septin9 test with the majority of them having a 
positive attitude towards the test.
About Epigenomics
Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the 
development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation 
biomarkers, Epigenomics' tests on the market and in development aim 
at diagnosing cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur and 
thereby may reduce mortality from this dreaded disease.
Epigenomics' product portfolio contains the CE-marked IVD test, Epi 
proColon, the world's first regulatory cleared molecular diagnostic 
test for the detection of colorectal cancer in blood that is based on
the biomarker Septin9, and further proprietary DNA methylation 
biomarkers and IVD products at various stages of development for 
colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. For development and global 
commercialization of IVD test products, Epigenomics pursues a dual 
business strategy in which direct commercialization of proprietary 
diagnostic test products is combined with non-exclusive licensing to 
diagnostic industry players with broad customer access. Strategic 
diagnostics industry partners include Abbott Molecular, Sysmex 
Corporation, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, and ARUP Laboratories, 
Inc. for diagnostics test products and services, and QIAGEN N.V. for 
sample preparation solutions and research products. The company is 
headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary, 
Epigenomics Inc., in Seattle, WA, U.S.A. For more information, please
visit Epigenomics' website at www.epigenomics.com.
Epigenomics legal disclaimers. This communication expressly or 
implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning 
Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain 
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could 
cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or 
achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any 
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by 
such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this 
communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any 
forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new 
information, future events or otherwise.
The information contained in this communication does not constitute 
nor imply an offer to sell or transfer any product outside of the 
European Union, and no product based on this technology is currently 
available for sale in the United States. The analytical and clinical 
performance characteristics of any product based on this technology 
which may be sold at some future time in the U.S. have not been 
established.
end of announcement                               euro adhoc

Further inquiry note:

Epigenomics AG
Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Tel: +49 30 24345 368
achim.plum@epigenomics.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A0BVT96
WKN: A0BVT9
Index: Prime All Share, Technology All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade

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