MDS Pharma Services Launches Metabolic Disorders Initiative
19 Luglio 2006 - 3:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
New therapeutic focus capitalizes on expertise in biomarkers and
management of global clinical trials involving diabetes,
dyslipidemia, obesity and metabolic syndrome KING OF PRUSSIA, PA,
July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Pharma Services, a leading
provider of innovative drug discovery and development solutions,
has launched a new therapeutic focus on metabolic disorders such as
diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity and metabolic syndrome - a cluster
of conditions that damage the cardiovascular system. Announced at
the American Diabetes Association scientific sessions meeting in
Washington, D.C., in June 2006, the initiative builds on the
business unit's expertise in biomarkers and its experience in
managing global clinical trials involving these increasingly
prevalent, lifestyle-related conditions. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of the adult
population in the United States is currently obese, and more than
200 million people worldwide have diabetes. "The top pharmaceutical
companies have programs in these areas, and in 2006 about a quarter
of our Global Clinical Development revenue is expected to come from
work associated with metabolic disorders," said MDS Pharma Services
President David Spaight. "We have made a strategic decision to
become a leader in this arena and have a dedicated team working in
metabolic disorders. MDS Pharma Services' extensive panel of
biomarkers for metabolic disorders and our expertise in this area
are critical to this work." Clinical development in metabolic
disorders, by definition, uses biomarkers as they are indicators of
a disease state. For example, biomarkers for obesity include
patient weight or body mass index, and blood cholesterol levels are
biomarkers for dyslipidemia. A standard biomarker for diabetes is
glycohemoglobin/hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). All nine MDS Pharma
Services-owned or -affiliated Central Lab facilities have earned
Level 1 certification for HbA1c testing from the National
Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program, which reflects the highest
levels of technical precision and accuracy in assessing HbA1c test
results. The Global Clinical Development division of MDS Pharma
Services is currently managing more than a dozen clinical trials
involving metabolic disorders. These include large cholesterol
studies in North and South America, a global obesity morbidity
study, and large diabetes studies in Europe and the Americas. The
MDS Pharma Services Metabolic Disorders Initiative is headed by
Didier Saur, an M.D. with nearly 20 years of drug development
experience in the pharmaceutical and contract research industries.
About MDS Pharma Services MDS Pharma Services offers a full
spectrum of resources to meet the drug discovery and development
needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With
numerous facilities strategically located around the world, the
company applies advanced scientific and technological expertise to
each stage of the drug discovery and development process - Early
Stage: lead optimization, pre-IND research, pharmaceutical and
biopharmaceutical development, early clinical research
(bioequivalence, phases I-IIa) and bioanalysis; and Late Stage:
global clinical development (phases IIb-IV) and central lab. For
more information, visit MDS Pharma Services' Web site at
http://www.mdsps.com/. MDS Pharma Services is an integral part of
MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ). MDS Inc. has more than 8,800 highly
skilled people in 28 countries. It provides a diverse range of
superior products and services to increase customers' speed,
precision and productivity in the drug development and disease
diagnosis processes. MDS is a global, values-driven life sciences
company, recognized for its reliability and collaborative
relationships that help create better outcomes in the treatment of
disease. Find out more at http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling
1-800-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day. DATASOURCE: MDS Pharma Services
CONTACT: For Investors, Sharon Mathers (416) 675-6777 ext. 4721, ;
For Media, Charlene McGrady, (610) 239-7900, ext. 231.,
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