DCGN - Sector: Healthcare --- Industry: Biotechnology & Drugs

[setravis]

Profile:  

 
deCODE genetics Inc.
Sturlugata 8
Reykjavik,  101
Iceland - Map
Phone: 354 570 1900
Fax: 354 570 1903
Web Site: http://www.decode.com

DETAILS  
Index Membership: N/A
Sector: Services
Industry: Research Services
Full Time Employees: 331


BUSINESS SUMMARY  
deCODE genetics, Inc., a bio-pharmaceutical company, develops and markets products for the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of common diseases. It offers DNA-based diagnostic tests to detect single-letter variations in the human genome (SNPs), such as deCODE T2, which detects SNPs associated with risk of type 2 diabetes; and deCODE AF, which detects SNPs associated with risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke. The company also provides deCODE MI, which detects SNPs associated with early-onset heart attack/myocardial infarction; deCODE ProstateCancer, which detects SNPs linked to prostate cancer; deCODE Glaucoma, which detects SNPs linked to risk of exfoliation glaucoma; and deCODE BreastCancer, which detects SNPs linked to risk of various forms of breast cancer. In addition, its lead drug development programs include DG041 for the prevention of arterial thrombosis, which has completed additional clinical pharmacology studies; DG051 for the prevention of heart attack has completed Phase IIa clinical studies; DG031 for the prevention of heart attack has completed reformulation; and an investigational new drug application was filed for DG071 for Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders. Further, the company's DNA-based risk diagnostic tests in development include melanoma, basal cell cancer, bladder cancer, and lung cancer. Furthermore, it provides contract genotyping services; deCODEme, a consumer genetic analysis service; deCODEme Cardio for cardiovascular-related diseases; and deCODEme Cancer for several common types of cancer. The company serves pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, pharmacogenomics companies, government institutions, research consortia, academic institutions, universities, and other research institutions in the United States and Europe. It has a strategic alliance with Illumina, Inc. to develop and commercialize molecular diagnostic products. deCODE genetics, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland.

[setravis]

deCODE Discovers a Gene Linked to Risk of Kidney Stones and Osteoporosis
Findings Offer Promising Target for Drugs to Better Regulate Calcium Metabolism, Are Integrated Into deCODEme(TM)
Press Release
Source: deCODE genetics
On Monday June 29, 2009, 8:14 am EDT

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A discovery by scientists at deCODE genetics (Nasdaq:DCGN - News) and academic colleagues from Iceland, the Netherlands and Denmark has pointed to a common biological mechanism contributing to both kidney stones and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). About 60% of the population carry two copies of a single-letter variation in the human genome (SNP) on chromosome 21, putting them at roughly 65% greater likelihood of developing kidney stones than those who carry no copies. This single variant may thus account for more than a quarter of the incidence of kidney stones, and in women carriers it is also associated with decreased BMD at the hip and spine. The study, which involved the analysis of the genomes of some 50,000 patients and controls, is published in the online edition of Nature Genetics at http://www.nature.com/ng and will appear in upcoming print edition of the journal.

The SNP is in the gene encoding claudin 14 (CLDN14), a protein expressed in the kidney and one of a family of membrane proteins that regulate the passage of ions and small solutes between cells. As calcium is a key component both of most kidney stones and of bone, the deCODE team examined the relationship between CLDN14 and the metabolism of calcium. The results suggest that the SNP may be contributing to increased calcium excretion in urine, a major risk factor for kidney stones and also a sign of bone loss.

"This is an exciting finding because it uncovers a highly plausible common biological mechanism leading to two diseases. This offers a potentially attractive new pathway for drug discovery, and the next task is to build on our understanding of how this SNP increases risk of these diseases and how this pathway could be targeted therapeutically to address this risk. As ever, deCODEme subscribers will see this new variant in their profiles, and we look forward building on this discovery," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.

About kidney stones

Kidney stones are small crystals formed of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium, that form in the kidneys. Smaller stones can simply be passed through urination, though larger ones can block the urinary tract, causing considerable pain and bleeding. Kidney stones affect some 5% of women and 10% of men in the industrialized world. Larger stones can be detected with ultrasound screening and broken up to facilitate passage, though the recurrence rate is high.

deCODE would like to thank all those who participated in this study, as well as the collaborating clinicians and scientists from the Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in Nijmegen, Netherlands; Nordic Bioscience A/S in Herlev, Denmark; and the Center for Clinical and Basic Research A/S in Ballerup, Denmark.

About deCODE

deCODE is a bio-pharmaceutical company developing drugs and DNA-based tests to improve the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of common diseases. Its lead therapeutic programs, which leverage the company's expertise in chemistry and structural biology, include DG041, an antiplatelet compound being developed for the prevention of arterial thrombosis; DG051 and DG031, compounds targeting the leukotriene pathway for the prevention of heart attack; and DG071 and a platform for other PDE4 modulators with therapeutic applications in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. deCODE is a global leader in human genetics, and has identified key variations in the genome (SNPs) conferring increased risk of major public health challenges from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Based upon these discoveries deCODE has brought to market a growing range of DNA-based tests for gauging risk and empowering prevention of common diseases. Through its CLIA-registered laboratory, deCODE offers deCODE T2(TM) for type 2 diabetes; deCODE AF(TM) for atrial fibrillation and stroke; deCODE MI(TM) for heart attack; deCODE ProstateCancer(TM) for prostate cancer; deCODE Glaucoma(TM) for a major type of glaucoma; and deCODE BreastCancer, for the common forms of breast cancer. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.(SM) Visit us on the web at: http://www.decode.com; on our diagnostics site at http://www.decodediagnostics.com for our pioneering personal genome analysis service and new focused disease scans, integrating the genetic variants included in these tests and those linked to another twenty common diseases, as well as for our new deCODEme Cardio(TM) and deCODEme Cancer(TM) scans, at http://www.decodeme.com; and on our blog at http://www.decodeyou.com.

Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, and the timing of events, to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those relating to our ability to obtain sufficient financing to continue as a going concern, our ability to develop and market diagnostic products, the level of third party reimbursement for our products, risks related to preclinical and clinical development of pharmaceutical products, including the identification of compounds and the completion of clinical trials, our ability to form collaborative relationships, the effect of government regulation and the regulatory approval processes, market acceptance, our ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights for our products, dependence on collaborative relationships, the effect of competitive products, industry trends and other risks identified in deCODE's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the risk factors identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. deCODE undertakes no obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


    Contacts:
    deCODE genetics
    Edward Farmer
    +44(0)7796-010107
    [email protected]

    Gisli Arnason
    +354-570-1900
    [email protected]

    Joy Bessenger
    +1-212-481-3891
    [email protected]

[setravis]

.•InPlay: deCODE genetics says discovers a gene linked to risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis

8:16AM deCODE genetics says discovers a gene linked to risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis (DCGN) 0.45 : "A discovery by scientists at deCODE genetics (DCGN) and academic colleagues from Iceland, the Netherlands and Denmark has pointed to a common biological mechanism contributing to both kidney stones and decreased bone mineral density. About 60% of the population carry two copies of a single-letter variation in the human genome on chromosome 21, putting them at roughly 65% greater likelihood of developing kidney stones than those who carry no copies. This single variant may thus account for more than a quarter of the incidence of kidney stones, and in women carriers it is also associated with decreased BMD at the hip and spine. The study, which involved the analysis of the genomes of some 50,000 patients and controls, is published in the online edition of Nature Genetics and will appear in upcoming print edition of the journal."


52wk Range: 0.13 - 1.88
Volume: 11,084,713
Avg Vol (3m): 1,153,930

Technicals
Most Actives
Percentage Gainer

Last Price Quote is:
64.49%above 13-day MA
72.81%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 97 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $27.81 
P/E Ratio: NA 
PEG Ratio: N/A 
Next Earnings: 08/05/2009
Last Analyst Rating: Underweight

Breakout above the 200 day on increasing volume, buy signal...
We have The Golden Cross!
Institutions own about 23% of the stock. This is a real company not some penny stock fly by night outfit.
They need a good PR firm to counter the bad press from the envious academics and medics.
Put this in the stocking for next year.