BERLIN and SEATTLE, March 5, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- At its meeting on March 1st, the Supervisory Board of Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt:ECX) decided to propose Heino von Prondzynski for election to the Supervisory Board at the next Annual General Meeting of shareholders. Heino von Prondzynski, former CEO of Roche Diagnostics, will replace Bruce L.A. Carter, PhD, CEO of Zymogenetics and member of the Supervisory Board of Epigenomics.
Heino von Prondzynski is a well-known expert in the diagnostics industry and looks back at a distinguished career in several leading diagnostic companies. Until December 2005, he headed the Diagnostics Division at F.Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel. Before that he held senior positions in the Vaccine business at Chiron Corp. in Germany, Italy and U.S. and in the Pharma, Self-medication and Diagnostic business at Bayer AG in Germany, Austria and Brazil. Heino von Prondzynski started his career at Troponwerke, Cologne, and then joined Bayer AG where he headed the Pharmaceutical and Diagnostics Business in Austria. He then moved on to national and international positions with increasing responsibilities, including General Manager of Bayer Diagnostics, Germany, General Manager and CEO of Chiron Behring GmbH, Adminstratore Delegato of Chiron SPA, Siena, Italy and President Division Vaccines at Chiron Corp., Emeryville, California.
"We are excited that Heino von Prondzynski has agreed to stand for election to Epigenomics' Supervisory Board," said Prof. Dr. Dr. Rolf Krebs, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Epigenomics. "He is probably one of the most experienced diagnostics managers in the industry today. I am sure the company would benefit greatly from his expertise and international business background while it is moving towards the commercialization of its innovative products and partnerships with new industry partners."
Krebs thanked Bruce Carter, who has served as Supervisory Board Member of Epigenomics AG since 2003, for his reliable, effective work and his contribution to the dynamic company development. Bruce Carter, after having seen Epigenomic through IPO from a venture capital backed firm to a publicly listed diagnostics company, decided to step down to allow further strengthening of the commercial diagnostics side of the board.
"I would be delighted to have the opportunity to join the Epigenomics Supervisory Board as the company moves into the next phase in its corporate development," said Heino von Prondzynski. "I have known the company since 2002 when we started collaborating with Epigenomics at Roche Diagnostics. Ever since, I have been convinced that their DNA methylation approach to molecular diagnostics is unique and bound to become an integral part of early cancer diagnosis and prognosis."
About Epigenomics AG
Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation markers, Epigenomics' tests can potentially diagnose disease at an early stage and help guide physicians to select an appropriate therapy. Epigenomics' defined business strategy covers two complementary core business areas:
In cooperation with industry partners, the company develops diagnostic screening tests for the early detection of cancer, mass market products with huge potentials. Based on easily obtainable body fluid samples (e.g. blood and urine), these tests are aimed at finding cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur. Epigenomics' product pipeline contains an extensively validated biomarker panel for the early detection of colorectal cancer in blood plasma, and further proprietary DNA methylation biomarkers at various stages of development for prostate, lung and breast cancer detection in body fluids. Epigenomics has full flexibility to offer these programs as attractive partnering opportunities for global development, marketing and sales in the fast growing cancer molecular diagnostics market.
As a second core business area, Epigenomics develops tissue-based prognostic tests for prostate and breast cancer patients. With a strong focus on prostate cancer applications, these tests are developed in strategic partnerships with Qiagen (pre-analytics) and Affymetrix (diagnostic device platform). In this area Epigenomics also retains the flexibility to decide on potential partnerships for marketing and sales
Pharma, diagnostics and biotech partners can access Epigenomics' portfolio of proprietary DNA methylation technologies protected by more than 200 patent families through Biomarker Services, IVD Development Collaborations, and Licensing. The company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary in Seattle, WA, USA. For more information, please visit Epigenomics' website at www.epigenomics.com.
Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.