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Paradigm Spine to Fund Trailblazing Genetic Research to Introduce the First Diagnostic Test Able to Predict Idiopathic Scoliosis
Monday June 5, 12:43 pm ET
Test Could Benefit Millions of Children Globally
NEW YORK, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly developed diagnostic test that promises to radically change the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is to be evaluated in trials funded by Paradigm Spine, LLC. ('Paradigm'). The trials will be conducted at Montreal's renowned Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center ('Ste.-Justine'), known globally for its research into scoliosis and other neuro-musculoskeletal diseases. Paradigm focuses on development of less invasive and tissue-sparing treatments for spinal diseases.
Marc R. Viscogliosi, Paradigm's Chief Executive, told an audience at Ste.- Justine: "I believe we may be on the brink of discovering the secret to the causes of scoliosis that until now were so complex that children were diagnosed purely on visual examination -- long after the disease had taken hold."
Paradigm signed an agreement with Ste.-Justine to provide cash and various other resources through 2008 to complete trials of a blood test devised by Dr. Alain Moreau, director of Ste. Justine's Bone Molecular Genetics and Skeletal Malformations Laboratories.
For Dr. Moreau, successful trials will validate work begun in 2001 under the auspices of the Yves Cotrel Foundation, in France, and continued at Ste.- Justine. Idiopathic scoliosis afflicts more than one million adolescents (10- 16 years old), in North America of which 13% may undergo therapeutic bracing treatment or some form of surgical correction.
To date the test has proven effective in identifying the presence of a genetic marker in animals and post-scoliotic patients. The proposed clinical trials are intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of the test using blood samples from early-stage scoliosis patients and an unaffected control group.
"Dr. Moreau's trailblazing work suggests a major scientific breakthrough that would change the way adolescent scoliosis is diagnosed and treated. We have followed his work for some time and are delighted to provide support for this critical trial," Mr. Viscogliosi said.
In its agreement with Ste.-Justine, Paradigm will receive the exclusive worldwide license to commercialize, manufacture, distribute, or sub-license any device, genetic tests, therapeutic agents, or any future technology derived from Dr. Moreau's scoliosis research.
Dr. Moreau said: "Scoliosis is a gradual, debilitating condition, both physically and psychologically. Treatment is difficult because, until the curvature of the spine exceeds a 'normal' angle, indicating scoliotic progression, very little can be done to correct it. We hope that this new test will provide the answer so that timely and less invasive measures can be adopted to effectively treat the disease."
According to Dr. Moreau, the results of his research, that began in 2001, made him optimistic that the progression of scoliosis would be predictable in infants using well understood genetic markers.
"The possibility of applying the results to future genetically based therapies is also very real and obviously quite exciting," Dr. Moreau added.
Paradigm has followed closely Dr. Moreau's research and that of his colleagues for more than five years through its relationship with his colleague at Ste.-Justine, Dr. Charles Rivard. Dr. Rivard is the inventor of Orthobiom, an experimental non-fusion treatment for late stage scoliosis, also being developed by Paradigm.
Mr. Viscogliosi added: "Underwriting Dr. Moreau's research will, we hope, be life changing not only for affected children, but also for my family. Having spent most of our working lives in the field of musculoskeletal research and development, my brothers and I are now fortunate to be able to provide significant funds for advancing life-changing treatments and technologies.
During the past decade the Viscogliosi brothers have supported orthopedic and musculoskeletal development work at three university hospital spine units in France and at the New York Hospital for Special Surgery, the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, and the American Spinal Injury Association. The Viscogliosi brothers also founded the Spine Arthroplasty Society and several other spine-related organizations.
The clinical trials for Dr. Moreau's new diagnostic test will include panels of children attending the three Ste.-Justine scoliosis clinics, as well as a control group of children with no symptoms of the disease. The results of the trials are expected to be available in early 2008.
Paradigm Spine to Fund Trailblazing Genetic Research to Introduce the First Diagnostic Test Able to Predict Idiopathic Scoliosis
Monday June 5, 12:43 pm ET
Test Could Benefit Millions of Children Globally
NEW YORK, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly developed diagnostic test that promises to radically change the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is to be evaluated in trials funded by Paradigm Spine, LLC. ('Paradigm'). The trials will be conducted at Montreal's renowned Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center ('Ste.-Justine'), known globally for its research into scoliosis and other neuro-musculoskeletal diseases. Paradigm focuses on development of less invasive and tissue-sparing treatments for spinal diseases.
Marc R. Viscogliosi, Paradigm's Chief Executive, told an audience at Ste.- Justine: "I believe we may be on the brink of discovering the secret to the causes of scoliosis that until now were so complex that children were diagnosed purely on visual examination -- long after the disease had taken hold."
Paradigm signed an agreement with Ste.-Justine to provide cash and various other resources through 2008 to complete trials of a blood test devised by Dr. Alain Moreau, director of Ste. Justine's Bone Molecular Genetics and Skeletal Malformations Laboratories.
For Dr. Moreau, successful trials will validate work begun in 2001 under the auspices of the Yves Cotrel Foundation, in France, and continued at Ste.- Justine. Idiopathic scoliosis afflicts more than one million adolescents (10- 16 years old), in North America of which 13% may undergo therapeutic bracing treatment or some form of surgical correction.
To date the test has proven effective in identifying the presence of a genetic marker in animals and post-scoliotic patients. The proposed clinical trials are intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of the test using blood samples from early-stage scoliosis patients and an unaffected control group.
"Dr. Moreau's trailblazing work suggests a major scientific breakthrough that would change the way adolescent scoliosis is diagnosed and treated. We have followed his work for some time and are delighted to provide support for this critical trial," Mr. Viscogliosi said.
In its agreement with Ste.-Justine, Paradigm will receive the exclusive worldwide license to commercialize, manufacture, distribute, or sub-license any device, genetic tests, therapeutic agents, or any future technology derived from Dr. Moreau's scoliosis research.
Dr. Moreau said: "Scoliosis is a gradual, debilitating condition, both physically and psychologically. Treatment is difficult because, until the curvature of the spine exceeds a 'normal' angle, indicating scoliotic progression, very little can be done to correct it. We hope that this new test will provide the answer so that timely and less invasive measures can be adopted to effectively treat the disease."
According to Dr. Moreau, the results of his research, that began in 2001, made him optimistic that the progression of scoliosis would be predictable in infants using well understood genetic markers.
"The possibility of applying the results to future genetically based therapies is also very real and obviously quite exciting," Dr. Moreau added.
Paradigm has followed closely Dr. Moreau's research and that of his colleagues for more than five years through its relationship with his colleague at Ste.-Justine, Dr. Charles Rivard. Dr. Rivard is the inventor of Orthobiom, an experimental non-fusion treatment for late stage scoliosis, also being developed by Paradigm.
Mr. Viscogliosi added: "Underwriting Dr. Moreau's research will, we hope, be life changing not only for affected children, but also for my family. Having spent most of our working lives in the field of musculoskeletal research and development, my brothers and I are now fortunate to be able to provide significant funds for advancing life-changing treatments and technologies.
During the past decade the Viscogliosi brothers have supported orthopedic and musculoskeletal development work at three university hospital spine units in France and at the New York Hospital for Special Surgery, the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, and the American Spinal Injury Association. The Viscogliosi brothers also founded the Spine Arthroplasty Society and several other spine-related organizations.
The clinical trials for Dr. Moreau's new diagnostic test will include panels of children attending the three Ste.-Justine scoliosis clinics, as well as a control group of children with no symptoms of the disease. The results of the trials are expected to be available in early 2008.
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