Celera genetic test may prevent irreversible liver damage in hepatitis patients

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., April 26 - Celera Genomics released data supporting a multi-gene genetic risk score that predicts future risk of developing cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The data presented supports a constellation of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that predicts the risk of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C and is a significantly better predictor than present clinical risk factors for the disease, according to a news release.

The seven SNPs were identified and validated through multiple research studies conducted over three years involving about 1,500 individuals infected with chronic hepatitis C whose samples were tested for the presence of about 25,000 SNPs as part of a Celera functional genome scan.

SNPs identified as associated with risk for cirrhosis through initial association studies that survived replication by testing with additional samples were used to develop a training algorithm to select the optimal constellation of SNPs.

These SNPs were finally tested in another set of samples to confirm their performance in predicting risk for cirrhosis.

"This study confirms that the genetic makeup of each patient is the most important factor in determining which patients with chronic HCV are likely to develop fibrosis progression to cirrhosis," said Mitchell L. Shiffman, the medical director of the Liver Transplant Program at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and a collaborator and co-author of the study, in a news release.

"These data are very likely to change the way in which we evaluate and select patients for anti-viral therapy," he added.

Celera is pursuing this program independently, outside its strategic alliance with Abbott, the release said.

Celera Genomics, based in Rockville, Md., uses proprietary genomics and proteomics discovery platforms to develop molecular diagnostic products and to identify and validate novel drug targets.

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