Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Interleukin Genetics licenses genetic dental test to OralDNA Labs

By Mass High Tech Staff

Interleukin Genetics Inc., a developer of genetic tests for personalized health, has reached a non-exclusive licensing agreement for Tennessee diganostic company OralDNA Labs Inc. to market, sell and distribute Interleukin Genetic’s PST genetic test to dentists. The test is designed to track a person’s genetic disposition for periodontal disease, which is linked to tooth loss.

The PST genetic test, in combination with Interleukin Genetics’ MyPerioPath test for gum infections, round out the company’s dental practice tools, said Brian Carr, OralDNA CEO.
 
Interleukin Genetics (AMEX:ILI) announced in February the closing of a deal to conduct clinical studies in four fields for a subsidiary of products maker and distributor Alticor Inc. Under terms of the deal, Interleukin planned to conduct the studies, funded by Alticor, to identify genetic indicators to predict the risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in Asian populations, the firm said. Its research would also seek genetic factors involved in athletic performance and skin appearance to develop products to promote healthy aging, the company said.

The subsidiary of Ada, Mich.-based Alticor, Access Business Group International LLC, has agreed to pay Interleukin $1.2 million for the research in 2008, and roughly $800,000 in surplus funding from previous research agreements between Interleukin and Alticor are also to be used toward the new studies, according to Interleukin.

In July 2007, Interleukin Genetics CEO Tim Richerson resigned, as did chief strategy officer David Finkelstein, forcing board chairman Thomas Curran to step in as interim CEO. In January, Interleukin named former Emisphere Technologies, Inc. executive Lewis H. Bender as CEO.

Interleukin, which lists 27 workers, reported a 2007 net loss of $6.95 million, on revenue of $4.7 million.