***NEWS****
Grant Life Sciences in-licenses HPV DNA-based test from Alphagenics
"This agreement now makes us exclusive licensee of the Alphagenics
HPV DNA-based test in China, a country in which there is a very high
incidence, unfortunately, of cervical cancer."
Hun-Chi Lin, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientist, Grant Life
Sciences
LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--Grant Life Sciences Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GLIF) announced
today that it has signed a final agreement with Alphagenics Diaco
Biotechnologies S.r.l. (Italy) to exclusively in-license the
manufacturing and marketing rights to Alphagenics' molecular
diagnostic test for human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in China and the
United States and non-exclusively in all other countries.
The Alphagenics HPV test in-licensed by Grant is a DNA-based
diagnostic that uses standard molecular diagnostic equipment found in
most commercial laboratories. Alphagenics' HPV DNA test complements
the HPV blood test that Grant has been developing to detect the
presence of antibodies produced only by cancer-causing HPV types.
There are some 100 types of HPV; however, only about 7 to 15 HPV-types
cause most cervical cancers. While a blood-based test to detect
precancerous evidence and cancer of the cervix is still viewed by
Grant Life Sciences as the preferred test-methodology to address the
needs of the developing world, molecular (DNA) testing is currently
the approved test protocol in both the U.S. and Europe to identify the
presence of different subtypes of HPV in the cervix.
"Our introduction of the Alphagenics HPV test not only will allow
commercial laboratories to provide molecular testing but will also
complement the current introduction of vaccines against HPVs," said
Dr. Hun-Chi Lin, President and Chief Scientist, Grant Life Sciences.
"The current approved vaccine in the U.S. provides for inoculation
against four types of HPV for use in girls and women 9-to-26 years of
age, who presumably have not been exposed to the viruses. However,
women who have reached sexual maturity and have not been exposed to
one of the four HPV-types may benefit from the vaccination, according
to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Consequently, the Alphagenics test will be able to be used by the
balance of the female population to determine exposure and the
possible use of the vaccine if found negative. Further both vaccines
on the market (GSK's vaccine is approved for Australia for ages
10-to-45 and Merck's vaccine is approved in the U.S. for ages 9-to-26)
only confer protection against HPV oncogenic types 16 and 18. While
these types are predominant (approximately 60+%) in the Caucasian
market, there are other types that play significant roles in the
Asian, African, Indian, and Hispanic populations. Fortunately, the
Alphagenics test is designed to test for all the serotypes of
oncogenic HPV."
In addition, Dr. Lin said that the Alphagenics test will be able
to be used in the current gynecological regimen to help qualify Pap
test results in the case of ambiguous readings, at a cost less than
the current approved molecular test. Grant expects to launch the
Alphagenics HPV DNA-based test in the Asian and Indian markets during
the first quarter of 2008 as an Analyte-Specific Reagent (ASR) to
reference laboratories.
About Alphagenics Diaco Biotechnologies S.r.l.
Established in July 1996, Alphagenics Diaco Biotechnologies is one
of the most specialized companies in Italy in the use of technical
innovation in molecular biology for the production of kits for
clinical and research use in oncology, bacteriology, virology and
mycology.
About Grant Life Sciences Inc.
Grant Life Sciences engages in research, development, marketing,
and sale of diagnostic kits for the screening, monitoring, and
diagnosis of diseases with emphasis on women's health, infectious
diseases, and cancers.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
With the exception of historical information, the matters
discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual future results
of Grant Life Sciences could differ significantly from those
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include risks and uncertainties such as the inability to
finance the company's operations or expansion, inability to hire and
retain qualified personnel, changes in the general economic climate,
including rising interest rates and unanticipated events such as
terrorist activities, results of clinical trials, and market
acceptance of the Company's products. In some cases, "forward-looking
statements" can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will,"
"should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate,"
"predict," "potential" or "continue," or other comparable terminology.
Although Grant Life Sciences believes that the expectations reflected
in the "forward-looking" statements are reasonable, such statements
should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any
other person, that such "forward-looking statements" will be achieved.
Grant Life Sciences undertakes no duty to update any of the
"forward-looking statements," whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. In light of the foregoing, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on such "forward-looking
statements." For further risk factors associated with our Company,
review our SEC filings.
Grant Life Sciences Inc.
Dr. Hun-Chi Lin, 213-637-5692
Copyright Business Wire 2007
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