deCODE Discovers Major Genetic Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes
January 15 2006 - 1:07PM
PR Newswire (US)
Most significant inherited component of T2D yet found; Discovery
may enable development of diagnostics and drugs of major benefit to
public health REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
In a scientific paper published today a team of scientists from
deCODE genetics (NASDAQ:DCGN) and colleagues report the discovery
of a variant in a gene on chromosome 10 that represents the most
significant genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) found to
date. More than one third of individuals in the populations studied
carry one copy of the at-risk variant and are at an approximately
45% increased risk of the disease compared to controls; 7% carry
two copies and are at a 141% greater risk. The original finding was
made in Iceland and was subsequently confirmed in studies in
Denmark and the United States. The paper is published today in the
online edition of Nature Genetics at http://www.nature.com/ng, and
will appear in the journal's February print edition. "This is a
milestone in human genetics. A common gene variant conferring
elevated risk of T2D has been earnestly sought by the genetics
community for many years. We have found such a variant, which we
estimate accounts for about 20% of T2D cases. This discovery sheds
new light on the biological causes of the disease. Importantly,
virtually all of this risk can be captured by looking at a
single-letter change in DNA -- ideal for the development of a
genetic test for assessing individual risk and developing more
personalized and effective prevention strategies. This is also an
exciting starting point for the discovery of new drugs, and we are
actively pursuing the development of both diagnostic and
therapeutic products to better prevent and treat T2D," said Kari
Stefansson, CEO of deCODE and senior author on the study. The
variant is located in a gene encoding a protein called
transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2). deCODE isolated the gene by
following up on the results of a population-based, genome-wide
linkage scan in Iceland that identified a promising region on
chromosome 10. The deCODE team genotyped 228 microsatellite markers
-- polymorphic signposts along the genome -- in this region in a
total of more than 2000 patients and controls. Analysis of the
frequency of different alleles, or versions, of these markers
pinpointed a version of one marker within the gene encoding TCF7L2
that is approximately 1.5 times more common in patients than in
controls. This corresponds to a 50% increase in risk of T2D per
copy carried (there are two copies of each chromosome in every
cell). This finding was replicated in Danish and U.S. cohorts,
where the at-risk version of the marker was found to confer an
increased risk of 41% and 85%, respectively, per copy carried. For
all of the cohorts combined, the at-risk allele confers an increase
in risk of approximately 45% for those carrying one copy, and a
141% increase in risk for individuals carrying two copies.
Utilizing data from the HapMap project, a SNP was found that
correlates nearly perfectly with the at-risk microsatellite.
Diabetes: A major public health problem Diabetes affects nearly 200
million people worldwide and an estimated 21 million in the United
States -- 7% of the population. The vast majority of diabetes
patients have type 2 diabetes, a condition where the body does not
produce enough insulin and/or the cells in the body do not properly
use insulin. In the United States, the direct medical cost
associated with diabetes is nearly $100 billion per year. The
incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly in the
industrialized world, in part due to the increase in obesity, one
of the major risk factors for developing the disease. About deCODE
deCODE genetics (NASDAQ:DCGN) is a biopharmaceutical company
applying its discoveries in human genetics to the development of
drugs for common diseases. deCODE is a global leader in gene
discovery -- our population approach and resources have enabled us
to isolate key genes contributing to major public health challenges
from cardiovascular disease to cancer, genes that are providing us
with drug targets rooted in the basic biology of disease. deCODE is
also leveraging its expertise in human genetics and integrated drug
discovery and development capabilities to offer innovative products
and services in DNA-based diagnostics, bioinformatics, genotyping,
structural biology, drug discovery and clinical development. deCODE
is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.(SM) Visit us on
the web at http://www.decode.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 to differ materially from those
described in the forward- looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, among others, those relating to technology
and product development, integration of acquired businesses, market
acceptance, government regulation and regulatory approval
processes, intellectual property rights and litigation, dependence
on collaborative relationships, ability to obtain financing,
competitive products, industry trends and other risks identified in
deCODE's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
deCODE undertakes no obligation to update or alter these
forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. Contact: deCODE genetics Edward Farmer Joy
Bessenger +1 212 343 2819 +1 212 481 3891 DATASOURCE: deCODE
genetics CONTACT: Edward Farmer, +1-212-343-2819, , or Joy
Bessenger, +1-212-481-3891, , both of deCODE genetics Web site:
http://www.decode.com/ http://www.nature.com/ng
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