Synvista Therapeutics Announces Data Further Demonstrating the Value of Haptoglobin Genotyping in Diabetic Patients During A...( New Data Presented at the Meeting...)

New Data Presented at the Meeting Demonstrate Vitamin E May Help Prevent

Cardiovascular Events in Hp2-2 Diabetes

MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Synvista Therapeutics, Inc. (Amex: SYI) today announced new data demonstrating that discontinuation of Vitamin E in patients with the Hp2-2 Diabetes may result in an increased risk of heart attack and rapid deterioration of HDL function. These results were presented today at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, underway in New Orleans.

"These data demonstrate that after detecting Hp2-2 Diabetes, physicians modified treatment and achieved improved outcomes for specific patients by prescribing vitamin E. These benefits were lost when treatment with vitamin E was abandoned," said Noah Berkowitz, M.D., President and CEO of Synvista Therapeutics. "These types of studies provide confirmation that our clinical laboratory test which determines haptoglobin genotype may be useful in selecting and guiding patient therapy. We believe that the use of our test will be an important facilitator of personalized medicine and will provide a standard by which physicians can influence clinical outcome."

About the Study

In a prospective study called ICARE, 2,241 individuals with diabetes mellitus age 55 or over from 47 primary-care clinics in Israel underwent haptoglobin genotype testing and were randomized to receive either Vitamin E or placebo. The subjects were then followed for three years to track heart attack (myocardial infarction or MI), stroke and death (cardiovascular and all cause). During the study, it was determined that those who had the Hp2-2 genotype and who also received vitamin E had a significantly lower incidence of MI
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