Virologic (NASDAQ:VLGC)
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ViroLogic's Phenosense Assay Shown Superior to Virco's
Antivirogram
Study Published in JAIDS Finds PhenoSense HIV More Precise Than Antivirogram
and Better at Detecting Resistance to Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase
Inhibitors
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroLogic,
Inc. (NASDAQ:VLGC) today announced the publication of results from an
independent study that compared the precision and sensitivity of its widely
used HIV drug resistance assay PhenoSense(TM) HIV with Antivirogram(R),
developed by Virco BVBA. Results from the study, conducted by investigators at
Stanford University, showed that PhenoSense HIV is more precise than
Antivirogram and is superior in detecting resistance to currently approved
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Study results will be
published in the April 1 issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndromes.
NRTIs are a class of anti-HIV drugs that serve as the foundation of virtually
all highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) regimens prescribed today.
NRTIs block the enzyme reverse transcriptase, preventing the transformation of
viral RNA to DNA. Federal guidelines recommend the inclusion of at least two
NRTIs in every regimen for most patients.
"Testing of HIV drug resistance is an important tool in the management of HIV
therapy," said Robert Shafer, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious
Diseases at Stanford University, and lead investigator of the study. "In
particular, the ability to precisely measure low level changes in
susceptibility to NRTIs is critical, as small changes are known to be
clinically significant for these drugs. The greater precision and sensitivity
of PhenoSense HIV demonstrated in this study may lead to more effective
management of HIV treatment relative to Antivirogram."
In the study, the precision and sensitivity of each assay was assessed by
examining drug resistance in wild-type viruses (those lacking drug resistance
mutations) and in viruses with commonly found mutations. A statistical
comparison of the two assays showed that PhenoSense HIV was more precise than
Antivirogram and was significantly more likely to detect resistance to the
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors abacavir (ABC), didanosine (ddI)
and stavudine (d4T) in viruses with common drug resistance mutations. The study
found no significant differences between the two assays in detecting resistance
to protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
About ViroLogic
ViroLogic is a biotechnology company advancing individualized medicine by
discovering, developing and marketing innovative products to guide and improve
treatment of serious infectious diseases and cancer. The Company's products are
designed to help doctors optimize treatment regimens for their patients that
lead to better outcomes and reduced costs. The Company's technology is also
being used by numerous biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop
new and improved antiviral therapeutics and vaccines as well as targeted cancer
therapeutics. More information about the Company and its technology can be
found on its web site at http://www.virologic.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, including
statements regarding the role for ViroLogic's tests and tests in development in
guiding the therapy of HIV-infected patients. These forward-looking statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause
actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other
expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating
to the performance of our products; our ability to successfully conduct
clinical studies and the results obtained from those studies; whether larger
confirmatory clinical studies will confirm the results of initial studies; our
ability to establish reliable, high-volume operations at commercially
reasonable costs; expected reliance on a few customers for the majority of our
revenues; the annual renewal of certain customer agreements; actual market
acceptance of our products and adoption of our technological approach and
products by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; our estimate of the
size of our markets; our estimates of the levels of demand for our products;
the timing and ultimate size of pharmaceutical company clinical trials; whether
payors will authorize reimbursement for its products; whether the FDA or any
other agency will decide to regulate ViroLogic's products or services; whether
the Company will encounter problems or delays in automating its processes;
whether intellectual property underlying the Company's technologies is
adequate; whether licenses to third party technology will be available; and,
whether we are able to build brand loyalty and expand revenues. For a
discussion of other factors that may cause ViroLogic's actual events to differ
from those projected, please refer to the Company's most recent annual report
on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other subsequent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Trademarks
PhenoSense HIV is a trademark of ViroLogic, Inc. Antivirogram is a registered
trademark of Virco BVBA.
DATASOURCE: ViroLogic, Inc.
CONTACT: Alfred Merriweather, Vice President and CFO of ViroLogic, Inc.,
+1-650-635-1100; or Carolyn Bumgardner Wang of WeissComm Partners,
+1-415-946-1065, or , for ViroLogic, Inc.
Web site: http://www.virologic.com/