Vermillion and the Ohio State University Report That Novel Diagnostic Test May Help Predict Risk for Relapse of TTP, A Serious Bloo...( - Findings Published in the B...),Health

- Findings Published in the British Journal of Hematology -

FREMONT, Calif., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vermillion, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRML) today reported findings from an Ohio State University (OSU) clinical study that indicated that a surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight (SELDI-TOF)-based thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) diagnostic test could be used to help estimate the risk of TTP relapses during clinical remission. OSU currently offers the TTP test as a laboratory developed test, based on an exclusive licensing agreement with Vermillion, and for which Vermillion sells OSU supplies and laboratory reagents.

The data -- published recently in the online edition of the British Journal of Haematology -- indicate that use of the test may provide a novel screening strategy to identify patients who may benefit from prophylactic treatment to help prevent relapse of this serious blood disorder. TTP is caused by a deficient activity of the enzyme ADAMTS13, which leads to platelet clumping, red blood cell destruction, and, in serious cases, to neurological abnormalities and renal failure.

"TTP is a life-threatening disease that affects thousands of people each year. The disease is characterized by frequent recurrences, with approximately half of all patients experiencing relapses," said Haifeng M. Wu, M.D., lead investigator of the study and Assistant Professor of Pathology and Medicine and Director of the Clinical Coagulation Laboratory at OSU Medical Center. "The SELDI-TOF technology was instrumental in improving sensitivity for extremely low levels of ADAMTS13, which may be used to help identify patients who could be candidates for prophylactic treatment based upon their increased ri
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