Interleukin Genetics Welcomes the Signing of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination ...( WALTHAM Mass. May 21 /- Interleuk...)

WALTHAM, Mass., May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (Amex: ILI), today expressed praise for the passage into law of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). The bill was approved unanimously in the Senate on April 25, 2008, and signed into law by President George W. Bush today.

The legislation is intended to ensure that individuals are protected from genetic discrimination from employers and insurance companies by prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to an individual or charging that person higher premiums based solely on a genetic predisposition to developing a disease. The legislation also bans employers from using an employee's genetic information when making hiring, firing, job placement, or promotion decisions.

Lewis H. Bender, Chief Executive Officer of Interleukin Genetics, commented, "We believe GINA is an important piece of legislation for healthcare. An individual is born with a given set of genes and there is nothing anyone can do about which genes they inherit. While certain genetic patterns can be correlated with increased or decreased disease risk, genes are not the entire story. Environmental factors such as lifestyle play a significant role in the onset and progression of most diseases. Knowing one's genetic patterns and associated risks for a given disease can provide valuable information to guide the individual on how best to prevent disease. A combination of monitoring activities, prophylactic treatment and lifestyle changes undertaken by an individual can lead to long and healthy life despite a high genetic risk. GINA will protect people who wish to understand their personal risks better and thus should lead to improved healthcare in the U.S."

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