EANS-News: Epigenomics AG Licenses Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer Blood Test to ARUP Laboratories

ARUP to commercialize laboratory-developed blood test based on

Epigenomics' mSEPT9 biomarker to aid in the early detection of
colorectal
cancer

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companies/cooperations/Molecular diagnostics

Press Release, Berlin, Germany and Seattle, WA, U.S.A., August 12,
2009 (euro adhoc) - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: ECX),
a cancer molecular diagnostics company, today announced that it
signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement for its proprietary DNA
methylation biomarker Septin 9 (mSEPT9) with Salt Lake City, Utah,
U.S. based ARUP Laboratories, Inc. (ARUP), a leading provider of
diagnostic testing services. Under the agreement, ARUP has obtained
rights to use the mSEPT9 biomarker to develop a molecular-based
laboratory test that can help physicians detect colorectal cancer
based on a patient's blood sample. Colorectal cancer is the second
leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Epigenomics has
repeatedly demonstrated that methylated DNA of the Septin 9 gene in
blood plasma indicates the presence of colorectal cancer in early
stages.

"Having a simple blood test that can detect colorectal cancer will be
a major step in the fight against this dreadful disease, which is
often curable when caught in the early stages," said Ronald L. Weiss,
MD, MBA, ARUP Executive Vice President of Health Policy, External
Affairs, and Corporate Communication. "Patient compliance in the U.S
with current colorectal cancer screening guidelines leaves a lot to
be desired. All too often, patients fail to undergo a colonoscopy or
conduct other types of colorectal cancer screenings because they find
these methods invasive, unpleasant or costly. A blood test for
detecting colorectal cancer, will be a convenient option that
complements other screening methods."

ARUP (www.aruplab.com) is the second commercial laboratory in the
U.S.A. to non- exclusively license the mSEPT9 biomarker from
Epigenomics with the goal of commercializing a laboratory-developed
blood test.

"ARUP is an ideal second laboratory partner to use our mSEPT9
biomarker technology to commercialize a laboratory-developed test for
detecting colorectal cancer," said Geert Nygaard, Chief Executive
Officer of Epigenomics AG. "We selected ARUP because they have a
record of innovation in molecular diagnostics. They also share our
objective of developing tests that will help physicians to improve
the health outcomes for their patients through accurate detection of
early-stage colorectal cancer. With today's licensing agreement we
continue to execute on our non-exclusive commercialization strategy
for our colorectal cancer biomarker. The agreement with ARUP for the
commercialization of a laboratory-developed test for mSEPT9
complements our current agreements with Quest Diagnostics for an
mSEPT9-based laboratory developed test, Abbott Molecular, who
obtained the non-exclusive rights to commercialize IVD test kit
products based on mSEPT9, as well as Sysmex" explained Mr. Nygaard.

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 in development aim at diagnosing
cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur and thereby may reduce
mortality from this dreaded disease. Epigenomics' product pipeline
contains a validated biomarker for the early detection of colorectal
cancer in blood plasma, and further proprietary DNA methylation
biomarkers at various stages of development for prostate and lung
cancer detection in urine, blood and bronchial lavage specimens.
Epigenomics' biomarker mSEPT9 for the early detection of colorectal
cancer in a simple blood sample has demonstrated continuously highest
performance in multiple clinical studies with in total more than
3,500 individuals tested. A large prospective clinical study -
PRESEPT - for evaluation of mSEPT9 in a screening population is
currently under way (www.presept.net).

For development and global commercialization of in vitro diagnostic
test products, Epigenomics pursues a non-exclusive partnering
strategy. Strategic diagnostics industry partners include Abbott
Molecular, Philips, 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.

Partners in the health care industry and the biomedical research
community can access Epigenomics' portfolio of proprietary DNA
methylation technologies and biomarkers protected by more than 150
patent families through research products, Biomarker Services, IVD
Development Collaborations, and Licensing. The company is
headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary
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, 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
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ots Originaltext: Epigenomics AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

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, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade