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| |  Results On Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease MONTREAL, Oct. 15, 1996 -- Algene Biotechnologies Corporation (Montreal Stock Exchange: AGN.B) announces that it has completed additional series of experiments pertaining to gene discovery in late-onset Alzheimer disease. Algene reports that it has identified 5 loci of interest (i.e. chromosomal regions that could harbor causal genes) for further gene prospection on Alzheimer disease. "Although these results could still be considered as preliminary" said Dr. Denis Gauvreau, President and CEO of Algene, "we are very enthusiastic about the data as statistical power for these loci is reasonably high, and in any case higher than that established in control experiments with Apolipoprotein E, a well established risk factor for Alzheimer disease that has already been reported by many groups working on this disorder. If one uses ApoE as a reference", Dr. Gauvreau also said, "it would appear that some of these loci could indeed contain genes associated to Alzheimer disease". The data has been analyzed with techniques that are based on linkage disequilibrium and identity-by-descent measurements, following a genome-wide screening with a large panel of DNA markers tested on a sample of 23 cases selected on strict neuropathological criteria and kinship in the extended family. "We believe that the founder population represents the most informative unit of investigation to crack the genetics of complex disorders", added Dr. Gauvreau. "Our mapping methods are principally based on the study of cases originating from founder populations, i.e., populations of individuals who share a limited number of ancestors in the recent centuries. These methods are in sharp contrast with traditional techniques which are working from a large number of informative families with affected individuals, or on numerous pairs of cases that are siblings. With our methods, a small number of cases - even sporadic - provided they are carefully selected in a founder population can be very robust from a statistical point of view, thus providing us with an important competitive edge". "Algene's results on late-onset Alzheimer disease are obviously very encouraging", also continued Dr. Gauvreau. "We will now want to confirm these results on other samples of Alzheimer cases screened from founder populations, and proceed with cloning experimentation to document candidate genes in the loci that are conclusively identified. Furthermore, as it is now becoming obvious that not all early-onset Alzheimer disease cases can be explained by the genes already reported in 1995, we have also decided to apply our technology to this form of the disorder. Finally, these experiments provide precious lessons for our other disease gene discovery programs". Algene Alzheimer disease gene discovery program has so far been conducted completely in-house and Dr. Gauvreau is confident that these results should allow Algene to attract partners at favorable terms in the near future. Alzheimer disease is unquestionably one of the most important disorders affecting the elderly. It is characterized by a progressive of cognitive functions. The disease is difficult to diagnose at onset and it cannot be treated satisfactorily at the present time. In its moderate and severe forms, Alzheimer disease affects 5-8 % of 65+ age bracket, a percentage that rises above 15-20 % over the age of 80. Although three causal genes have already been identified conclusively in early-onset Alzheimer disease - a rare form of the disorder which affects less than 1-3 % of Alzheimer cases -, late-onset Alzheimer disease is considered as a complex disorder and no significant clues (apart from ApoE) had been obtained so far on its genetic causes. Algene Biotechnologies Corporation is active in the field of biomedical genetics as applied to the treatment of human diseases. Research and development activities focus currently on genes that cause Alzheimer disease, schizophrenia, migraine and Parkinson disease. The Class B Subordinate Shares of Algene are listed on the Montreal Exchange under the symbol AGN.B.
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