FREMONT, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vermillion, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRML), a molecular diagnostics company, recently held a roundtable teleconference focusing on its peripheral artery disease (PAD) diagnostic program and the need for improved detection of this life- and limb-threatening condition. The teleconference, which took place yesterday, featured keynote speaker John Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, whose research forms the basis of Vermillion's PAD blood test.
The roundtable discussion was the first of a series of calls to provide investors an opportunity to hear more about Vermillion's diagnostic programs and understand the various markets that the company seeks to address. Yesterday's forum served as a means to educate this audience about the current state of PAD and why there is a clinical need for a blood test that can determine a person's risk of developing the disease. PAD, a serious condition affecting some eight to 12 million Americans, can double a person's risk of heart attack and stroke, and increase the risk of amputation and death. There are treatments that can save the lives and limbs of these patients once the disease is recognized.
"The signs and symptoms of PAD often go unnoticed, and as a result many patients are not being properly diagnosed. We are in serious need of new, innovative tools to aid in the diagnosis and management of this life- threatening condition," said Dr. Cooke. "Together with Vermillion, we are working to develop a simple blood test that will stratify an individual's risk of developing PAD. This will serve as an important advancement in the overall management of the disease - benefiting both the patient and the physician alike."
"Improving diagnosis of PAD, expediting treatment and enhancing patient outcomes is a key goal for Vermillion, as well as for Dr. Cooke and his research team at Stanford," said Gail Page, President and CEO of Vermillion. "We believe that our PAD diagnostic program will achieve these goals, and look forward to reporting additional clinical and commercial results in the coming months."
To access the archived Web cast of the conference call, visit the Investor Relations section of Vermillion's Web site at http://www.vermillion.com. Additionally, a telephone replay of the roundtable discussion is available through May 30, and may be accessed by dialing (800) 633-8284 from the United States and Canada or (+1 402) 977-9140 internationally. The replay pass code is 21381902.
About Vermillion's PAD Diagnostic Test Program
In collaboration with Dr. Cooke and his research team at Stanford University, Vermillion has developed a novel panel of biomarkers in an effort to determine the risk of PAD through a simple blood test. The company has an exclusive license agreement with Stanford to develop and commercialize this panel.
About Vermillion
Vermillion, Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians diagnose, treat and improve outcomes for patients. Vermillion, along with its prestigious scientific collaborators, has diagnostic programs in oncology, hematology, cardiology and women's health. Vermillion is based in Fremont, California. Additional information about Vermillion can be found on the Web at http://www.vermillion.com .
Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding Vermillion's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on Vermillion's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Vermillion notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. There are no guarantees that Vermillion will succeed in its efforts to commercialize its PAD diagnostics products in 2008 or during any other period of time. Factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include but are not limited to: (1) uncertainty in obtaining intellectual property protection for inventions made by Vermillion; (2) unproven ability of Vermillion to discover, develop, and commercialize PAD diagnostic products based on findings from its disease association studies; (3) unproven ability of Vermillion to discover or identify new protein biomarkers and use such information to develop PAD diagnostic products; (4) uncertainty as to whether Vermillion will be able to obtain any required regulatory approval of its PAD diagnostic products; (5) uncertainty of market acceptance of its PAD diagnostic products, including the risk that its products will not be competitive with products offered by other companies, or that users will not be entitled to receive adequate reimbursement for its products from third party payors such as private insurance companies and government insurance plans; and (6) other factors that might be described from time to time in Vermillion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Vermillion expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in Vermillion's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law.
SOURCE Vermillion, Inc.
