Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDA), announced that its PGxHealth® division is expanding its FAMILION family of genetic tests to include two new tests to diagnose heart diseases. With the launch of a test for Conduction Disease associated with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (CD-DCM) and a test for Short QT Syndrome, PGxHealth continues to lead the industry with the most comprehensive menu of genetic tests to diagnose or confirm familial heart diseases. The Company also announced the introduction of a significantly enhanced Brugada Syndrome (BrS) test, which now includes seven BrS-causative genes. In addition to these new test offerings, PGxHealth's FAMILION tests will be featured in several scientific presentations at the annual Heart Rhythm Society meeting. By expanding and enhancing the FAMILION family of tests, PGxHealth continues to help guide treatment that may prevent possible sudden cardiac death.

"Conduction abnormalities are often one of the first symptoms associated with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, frequently appearing years before the emergence of typical DCM symptoms," said John Jefferies, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure, Baylor Heart Center. "Early identification of patients with genetic DCM can lead to more timely interventions for both patients and their affected family members."

PGxHealth scientists and their academic collaborators are delivering three scientific presentations on related heart diseases at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting, including:

- Intronic and Exonic Splice Variants in KCNQ1's Exon 8 as a Pathogenic Substrate for Type 1 Long QT Syndrome. Abstract # PO2-77

- Distinguishing Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy-associated Mutations from Background Genetic Noise. Abstract # PO3-05

- Analysis of Species Conservation to Enhance Mutation Classification in Long QT Syndrome. Abstract # PO5-06

"These important presentations, together with our new FAMILION test offerings, highlight our commitment to working with academicians and leading healthcare providers to advance the science of genetic heart diseases," said Benjamin Salisbury, Ph.D., Vice President of Clinical Genetics at PGxHealth. "The Heart Rhythm meeting is well known for attracting the industry's leading heart disease experts and decision makers, and we are pleased to be able to bring new compelling data to this audience year after year."

About Conduction Disease associated with DCM and Short QT Syndrome

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease characterized by ventricular dilation and reduced cardiac function. DCM is the third most common cause of heart failure, after hypertension and coronary artery disease, and the most frequent cause of heart transplantation. Some genetic forms of DCM are associated with prominent cardiac conduction system disease. Because of the high risk of sudden death in these patients, the progression to heart failure, and the need for strict follow-up in consideration of heart transplant, the early identification of CD-DCM through genetics can be life-saving.

Short QT Syndrome (SQTS) is an inherited heart disorder resulting from genetic defects in cardiac ion channels and leads to an increased likelihood of ventricular arrhythmias. SQTS can be clinically silent and yet lead to sudden death. Effective treatment is available and therefore early recognition and treatment prior to the onset of cardiovascular events can be potentially life-saving.

About the FAMILION Tests

The FAMILION family of tests detects genetic mutations that can cause cardiac channelopathies or cardiomyopathies. Cardiac channelopathies are rare, inherited heart conditions including Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), Short QT Syndrome (SQTS), Brugada Syndrome (BrS) and Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT). Cardiomyopathies are progressive diseases that affect the heart muscle including Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), Conduction Disease associated with DCM (CD-DCM), and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

For patients suspected of having a cardiac channelopathy or cardiomyopathy, FAMILIONtesting can confirm the diagnosis, provide valuable risk stratification information, guide treatment decisions, identify presymptomatic or silent carriers and enable genetic counseling.

For more information about PGxHealth's FAMILION family of tests, please visit booth #2011 at 2010 Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions, online here.

About PGxHealth®

PGxHealth, a division of Clinical Data, Inc., is utilizing its biomarker expertise and intellectual property to develop and commercialize therapeutics as well as genetic and pharmacogenomic tests that detect serious diseases and help to predict drug safety and efficacy. Its tests are marketed under the FAMILION® and PGxPredict® brands.

Source
Clinical Data, Inc.