Stanford University, Vermillion to Develop Novel Biomarker for PAD

March 3, 2008 - Vermillion Inc. has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Stanford University to develop and commercialize a novel biomarker panel used to assess the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), as both groups aim to develop tools to expedite treatment and enhance patient outcomes.
Under the terms of the agreement, Vermillion is granted exclusive rights to the biomarker panel, and will undertake the development and commercialization of a PAD blood test, which utilizes the multi-marker panel to stratify an individual’s risk for developing the disease.
“PAD is underdiagnosed and undertreated. We need new, innovative tools to aid in the diagnosis and management of this life and limb-threatening disease," said John Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Medicine at Stanford University whose research has formed the basis of the Vermillion PAD blood test. “Through our…venture with Vermillion, we are working to develop these essential tools to improve diagnosis, with the intent of expediting treatment and enhancing patient outcomes.”
In collaboration with Stanford, Vermillion completed a 540-patient clinical study evaluating the ability of the biomarker panel to classify individuals into high and low risk groups for PAD. These results will be published in a peer-reviewed clinical journal in the coming months. Additionally, Vermillion is establishing a clinical steering committee to guide and provide advice on a clinical trial to support registration of the PAD test with the FDA.

For more information: www.vermillion.com