Skin sterol provides new information about heart disease risk

Skin sterol provides new information about heart disease risk



CALGARY, Oct. 26  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The ability to identify those at
greatest risk for heart disease remains a significant public health challenge.
The accumulation of sterol in the skin tissues, as measured by the PREVU(x)
Point of Care Sterol Test, provides new information about a patient's risk of
coronary artery disease (CAD), according to data presented yesterday at the
annual Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. Additionally, skin sterol,
specifically skin tissue cholesterol, measured non-invasively, may have value
in stratifying patients with established CAD who have been treated with
cholesterol-lowering medications.

"Our findings confirm previous clinical evidence that skin sterol provides new
information about heart disease risk independent of blood cholesterol and other
traditional risk factors," said Dr. Milan Gupta, Assistant Clinical Professor,
Department of Medicine, McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, and
Cardiologist, Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health Centre, in Brampton,
Ontario, principal investigator of the clinical trial. "Additionally, we have
gained important new data about skin sterol levels in high-risk patients,
particularly patients with a history of angina and diabetes."

The abstract presented at the conference, held in Calgary, Alberta, was Skin
Tissue Cholesterol is Associated with Angina, Diabetes and History of
Stroke/TIA in Subjects with Coronary Artery Disease, by Dr. Milan Gupta;
Michelle Tsigoulis; and Michael Evelegh, PhD, of IMI International Medical
Innovations.

About the Study

Skin sterol was evaluated in 300 patients with proven CAD, 90% of whom were
taking statins. Patients were examined at baseline and annual clinic visits as
part of the PRACTICE clinical registry (Prospective Assessment of
Cardiovascular Risk and Treatment in Canadians of Varying Ethnicity), which is
ongoing. Other novel markers of risk measured in the study included hs-CRP,
lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein B and measures of insulin sensitivity.

  Key findings of the study included:

  -   Skin sterol appears to provide new information about CAD risk;
  -   Skin sterol levels were elevated in high-risk subjects, demonstrating
      a positive correlation to angina (p(equal sign)0.01) and diabetes
      (p(equal sign)0.001) when adjusted for age and race;
  -   Serum, or blood, markers were not positively correlated with prior
      stroke, angina or diabetes; and
  -   Skin sterol values were higher in Caucasians than in non-Caucasians
      (p(equal sign)0.002).



Previous studies of patients not taking cholesterol-lowering medications have
shown that skin sterol and blood cholesterol are not correlated, but that there
is a relationship between skin sterol and history of heart attacks, as well as
a correlation to various markers of cardiovascular risk, including Framingham
risk score, ICAM-1, coronary calcium, and coronary artery disease.

Skin sterol tests are marketed worldwide by McNeil Consumer Healthcare under
the brand name PREVU(x) Skin Sterol Test and were developed by IMI
International Medical Innovations Inc. (TSX:IMI; Amex: IME).

About PREVU(x)

PREVU(x) Point of Care Skin Sterol Test, which does not require fasting or the
drawing of blood, tests the amount of sterol in the skin tissue. Clinical
studies have shown that high levels of skin sterol are correlated with higher
incidence of CAD as measured by angiography and Electron Beam Computed
Tomography. PREVU(x) POC has been approved for sale in Canada, the U.S. and
Europe.

About McNeil

McNeil Consumer Healthcare is a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of
companies that manufactures and sells innovative health care and consumer
products in Canada and around the world. McNeil's Canadian head office is
located in Guelph, Ontario.

About IMI

IMI is a world leader in predictive medicine, dedicated to developing rapid,
non-invasive tests for the early detection of life-threatening diseases. IMI's
head office is located in Toronto, and its research and product development
facility is at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. For further
information, please visit http://www.imimedical.com/.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause IMI's
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the lack of
operating profit and availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D
projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the
successful development or marketing of IMI's products, reliance on third-party
manufacturers, the competitiveness of IMI's products if successfully
commercialized, the ability of IMI to take advantage of business opportunities,
uncertainties related to the regulatory process, and general changes in
economic conditions. In addition, while IMI routinely obtains patents for its
products and technology, the protection offered by the Company's patents and
patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our
competitors and there can be no guarantee of our ability to obtain or maintain
patent protection for our products or product candidates.

Investors should consult IMI's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian
and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and
uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are
cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. IMI is providing
this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake
any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press
release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

DATASOURCE: IMI International Medical Innovations Inc.



CONTACT: IMI International Medical Innovations: Canada: Sarah

Borg-Olivier, Director, Communications, [phone] ext. 27,

; Alison O'Mahony, NATIONAL PharmaCom,

[phone], ; U.S.: Jane Lin/John Nesbett, The

Investor Relations Group, [phone], ;

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Lan Lai-Minh, Director of Communications,

[phone] ext. 5215, 

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