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

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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
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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, Technology All Share
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Berlin / free trade
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