PRNewswire - January 23, 2001
Under the direction of DHS' Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP), VGI will provide a test to sequence the genes of the AIDS virus to help determine which drugs will be most effective for the individual patient. The genotype testing will take place in the department's public health laboratories.
Funding for the tests will be provided through the State Office of AIDS Viral Resistance Voucher Program. VGI will be providing services to County health facilities as part of its Vigilance II study, a prospective open-label trial conducted in the United States under VGI's Investigational Device Exemption.
"This collaboration allows us to provide state-of-the-art care to patients in our system regardless of their ability to pay," said Jonathan E. Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Public Health and Health Officer for DHS. "Funding from the State of California is critical to its success."
The TRUGENE™ HIV-1 Genotyping Test is used in numerous local research laboratories, such as the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Southern California, and the Veterans Administration. The program was announced yesterday during a breakfast symposium for Los Angeles County's HIV public health care providers.
"We're extremely pleased to be partnering with Los Angeles County and provide our TRUGENE technology to their network of medical clinics through our Vigilance II study," said Richard T. Daly, President and CEO of Visible Genetics Inc. "Working with Los Angeles County's Department of Health Services is a great example of a public-private initiative which will truly benefit thousands of HIV patients."
In addition to providing patients with greater access to resistance testing, the program provides a significant opportunity to study and enhance knowledge of the local HIV epidemic. A countrywide database from resistance testing at public health medical clinics will be developed, representing demographic, geographic and specific viral resistance patterns.
"This information will greatly enhance understanding of the complex HIV viral resistance mutations occurring within Los Angeles County and help determine treatment strategies that could be most effective for any individual with HIV," said Charles L. Henry, Director of the Los Angeles County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy. "The ability to test HIV for resistance to drug therapies is every bit as significant as the actual development of antiretroviral therapy and protease inhibitors."
Visible Genetics' TRUGENE™ HIV-1 Genotyping Test and OpenGene™ System are currently under review at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Visible Genetics Inc. is a leader in the emerging field of pharmacogenomics, which uses genetic information in the identification and analysis of genes to improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. VGI manufactures and markets high performance automated DNA sequencing systems and complete kits for the analysis of genes linked to disease. The Company's OpenGene™ system employs patented CLIP™ technology -- a single-step, bi-directional sequencing method that significantly reduces the time and cost involved in identifying clinically relevant genetic information.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the Company's results to differ materially from expectations. These include risks relating to the ability to obtain regulatory approval, market acceptance of genotyping and the Company's products, delays in, or the refusal of, insurance companies and other third-party payors to reimburse us for our products, delays in product development, delays in making the new Atlanta manufacturing facility operational, and other risks as detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. VGI disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Visible Genetics Inc. Web Site: http://www.visgen.com
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