Press Releases

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (December 19, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling technology, announced today the grant of EP Patent 2,089,539B entitled, “Biomarkers Related to Metabolic Age and Methods Using the Same.” The European Patent Office awarded the patent to Metabolon on December 7, 2011 and is the first patent issued to Metabolon by the EPO. The newly issued patent extends Metabolon’s intellectual property (IP) related to biomarkers of metabolic age; US7,781,160, the related United States Patent, was issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in August 2010.

As more information regarding the impact of nutrition on health-related issues becomes available and as the population ages, interest in health and nutrition has increased. The metabolism of an individual has been clinically shown to change with age, but until recently the ability to monitor metabolite changes has been limited to targeted assays. With the development of metabolomics analysis, changes in metabolites can now be monitored globally in a non-targeted manner. This approach allows a metabolic profile to be determined for a group or an individual by providing biomarkers and methods which can be used to determine their metabolic age. The profile will also allow for classification as a positive or negative and will provide guidance as to how to improve a negative profile and in effect, the individual’s health.

Media Contact:
LHA
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (December 15, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling technology, announced today the appointment of Eric Button as Senior Vice President of Diagnostics. In this position, Mr. Button will have responsibility for all aspects of Metabolon’s diagnostics operations, and will report to the company’s CEO John Ryals.

Mr. Button possesses extensive experience in marketing, strategic and business planning, corporate partnering, licensing, R&D management and acquisitions, among other areas, working in both public and privately held companies.

“Eric brings to Metabolon 20 years of entrepreneurial and leadership skills, as well as experience in all phases of business operations,” said Mr. Ryals. “We look forward to the support he will provide our diagnostics division as we develop and bring to market unique products for cancer and other therapeutic areas, and are excited to have him as part of our team.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Button stated, “Metabolon has the leading biochemical platform and is developing inspiring technology in the diagnostic space. My experience in launching both cancer and diabetes diagnostic tests is well-suited for Metabolon, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the talent this company employs and look forward to what we can accomplish.”

Most recently, Mr. Button has served as President of GlycoMark, Inc., where he successfully oversaw the company’s GlycoMark joint venture with Toyota and Nippon Kayaku to launch a medical test for diabetes. Previously he was President and CEO of Amplistar, Inc., a company dedicated to pursuing new approaches to cancer diagnostics, and Founder, President and CEO of Innovex Diagnostics/NovaDx, a diagnostics company focused on osteoporosis and arthritis. Earlier in his career he served in various marketing capacities at Hybritech, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly, where he led the business group responsible for the PSA prostate cancer test. Since 2001 he has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and has served as guest lecturer on entrepreneurship and marketing to MBA students at Wake Forest University.

Mr. Button holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, an MS in molecular genetics from the University of British Columbia-Vancouver and a BA in biology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Media Contact:
LHA
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (December 13, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling technology, announces the publication of “Biochemical Alterations Associated with ALS” in the journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The paper describes the use of global metabolomics to identify biochemical changes underlying ALS and was carried out as a collaboration by scientists in Dr. Merit Cudkowicz’s laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Robert Bowser at the University of Pittsburgh and Metabolon scientists. The Northeastern ALS consortium (NEALS) provided samples for the study.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a devastating and fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor neuron loss which results in progressive muscle wasting and weakness. A firm understanding of the cause of ALS remains elusive. Currently, diagnostic tests and reliable biomarkers of disease onset or progression are unavailable.

The objective of the study was to identify metabolic pathways affected by ALS which could become the basis for the identification of diagnostic biomarkers and targets for drug development. Using global metabolic profiling, metabolic signatures of ALS were observed in biochemical pathways previously associated with proposed disease mechanisms in ALS as well as in biochemical pathways suggestive of hepatic involvement. The reported results provide insight into the pathophysiology of ALS and suggest promising areas of focus for future studies.

“The ALS disease mechanisms identified in this work have the potential to lead to novel diagnostic biomarkers as well as for the development of biochemical targets for ALS therapies,” stated Dr. James Berry, the corresponding author of the report.

Copies of the paper can be accessed through the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis link: http://informahealthcare.com/eprint/HfVaABJeG6HyWhRjZmbG/full

Media Contact:
LHA
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (December 08, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announced today the publication of “Toxicogenomics and Metabolomics of Pentamethylchromanol (PMCol)-Induced Hepatotoxicity” in the journal Toxicological Sciences. The study was conducted by the Biosciences Division of SRI International in conjunction with Metabolon scientists.

The study integrated classical toxicology, toxicogenomics, and metabolomic approaches to determine the mechanism of toxicity and identify sensitive early markers of target organ injury by PMCol.

Metabolomic evaluation of the liver and plasma samples found dose- and time-dependent effects, including depletion of total glutathione and glutathione conjugates, decreased methionine and cofactors FAD and NAD(P)+, and increased S-adenosylhomocysteine, cysteine, and cystine. Chronic exposure to high doses of PMCol induced liver damage and dysfunction that is likely due to two factors: the direct inhibition of glutathione synthesis and the modification of drug metabolism pathways.

The article has been published on-line in Toxicological Sciences and may be accessed by this link:

http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/09/13/toxsci.kfr238.abstract

Media Contact:
LHA
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (November 28, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling technology, announced today that they have received laboratory accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program is the premier globally-recognized program for laboratory accreditation and the only one of its kind that utilizes practicing laboratory professionals as inspectors. Designed to exceed government regulatory compliance standards, the program assists laboratories to achieve the highest levels of excellence to positively impact patient care. CAP accreditation is based on rigorous standards translated into specific clinically recognized laboratory procedures and methods.

Metabolon’s CEO John Ryals said, “This accreditation means that Metabolon has met exceptionally rigorous standards in order to achieve the highest caliber of diagnostic testing quality. Our CAP accredited lab facility will offer tests developed using Metabolon’s proprietary biochemical profiling technology. The first of these new tests will be Quantose IR for the evaluation of insulin resistance.” Insulin resistance is a primary risk factor for the development of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Media Contact:
LHA
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Data reveal altered host-bacteria interactions associated with periodontitis

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (October 19, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announced today the publication of "Metabolomics Revealed Elevated Macromolecular Degradation in Periodontal Disease," in the Journal of Dental Research. Non-targeted biochemical profiling (metabolomics) provided insight into the biochemical mechanisms underlying periodontitis pathogenesis and identified potential disease biomarkers. The study was carried out by Virginia M. Barnes and colleagues of Colgate-Palmolive, and SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, with co-authors from Metabolon. Periodontal disease, described as inflammation of the gums, is among the most common infectious diseases.

Previously, untargeted metabolomic profiling of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) found that metabolites associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, tissue degradation, and bacterial metabolism were significantly induced by periodontal disease. This report expanded the analysis to investigate the impact of periodontitis on saliva, the primary fluid in the oral cavity. In the periodontal disease subjects, researchers measured increased levels of multiple classes of biochemicals, including dipeptide, amino acid, carbohydrate, lipids and nucleotide metabolites. These changes indicated periodontitis is associated with increased degradation of proteins, triacylglycerol, glycerolphospholipids, polysaccharides and polynucleotides. This macromolecular degradation provides a fertile environment for bacterial expansion as a result of the increased availability of metabolites to oral microflora for energy production. Importantly, this more favorable energy environment for oral bacteria potentially exacerbates the disease state. Since saliva is a readily collected material, in contrast to GCF, and biochemically rich, the current study provides an extensive pool of potential biomarkers for evaluating periodontal disease in a point of care environment.

This research is being conducted and shared in the hopes there will be a better understanding of oral diseases on a subclinical level. This enhanced and objective learning will help researchers in efforts towards improving both oral health as well as overall health.

The article has been published on-line in the Journal of Dental Research and may be accessed by this link: http://jdr.sagepub.com/content/90/11/1293

Media Contact:
LHA
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Shanghai facility is company’s first foray into Asia

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (October 17, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling technology, announced today that it has opened a new metabolomics lab in Shanghai, China in collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU).

The SJTU-Metabolon Joint Metabolomics Laboratory is a partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, one of the oldest and most prestigious public research universities in China. Metabolon has licensed its proprietary metabolomics platform technology to SJTU to enable a world class biochemical profiling laboratory at the university. SJTU has funded the laboratory and personnel already trained by Metabolon and will work with academic and commercial scientists within China or other Asian countries to perform biochemical profiling experiments with Metabolon’s technology.

“We are very pleased to be bringing the science of metabolomics to a large untapped market such as China and the Asian continent as a whole,” said Metabolon president and CEO John Ryals, Ph.D. “Our partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University is further proof of Metabolon’s efforts to bring personalized medicine and metabolic biomarker research to all parts of the globe.”

“Metabolomics is an important field of study that holds great promise for plant biology, medical and nutrition needs,” said Shanghai Jiao Tong University spokesperson Professor Dabing Zhang. “We are excited to work with a company on the cutting edge of such promising healthcare technology.”

Metabolon’s world headquarters is located in Durham, NC. The company also has offices in Western Europe, including London, England and Madrid, Spain.

SJTU Metabolomics Lab Photo

Media Contact:
LHA
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Analyses of biomarkers provides insight into insulin resistance related to type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease and the effects of insulin sensitizer therapy in T2D prevention study

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (September 13, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announced today that they will give three presentations representing the company’s research into biomarkers at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal September 12-18. Also presenting the EASD’s 43rd Claude Bernard keynote lecture is Metabolon collaborator, Ele Ferrannini, MD Professor of Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy, on Friday, September 16th. The lecture is from 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. and is entitled “Diabetes: Brief History of a Conspiracy”. Please Note: UNDER EMBARGO until 1:01 p.m. on 9/16

The first of two oral presentations (Oral Presentation number 55) for Metabolon will take place on Tuesday, September 13th at 2:45 p.m.:

“Pioglitazone Improves Insulin Sensitivity by Modulating Novel Biomarkers: Results from the ACT NOW Study” will be presented by Ralph DeFronzo, M.D., Professor, Chief Diabetes Division, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The study determined that pioglitazone modulates novel metabolites related to lipid metabolism and oxidative stress, which may in part explain the beneficial effects of pioglitazone on insulin sensitivity.

The second oral presentation (Oral Presentation number 228) takes place Friday, September 16th from 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m.:

“Metabolic Markers of Insulin Sensitivity Predict Progression to IGT and T2D”, will be presented by Walt Gall, Ph.D., Metabolon, Inc.; the study demonstrated that the measurement of a panel of insulin resistance markers in a fasting plasma sample can identify high-risk insulin resistant subjects with high accuracy. This measurement can also predict the progression to impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Please Note: UNDER EMBARGO until 10:16 a.m. on 9/16

Metabolon will also have a poster presentation on Wednesday, September 14^th at 12:30 p.m. as poster event number 039:

“Alpha-Hydroxybutyrate and Linoleoyl-Glycerophosphocholine as New Markers of Fatty Liver Disease”, will be presented by Amalia Gastaldelli, Ph.D., CNRS, Research Director at the Cardiometabolic Risk Laboratory Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy; the study determined that raised plasma concentrations of Alpha-Hydroxybutyrate (α-HB) and Linoleoyl-Glycerophosphocholine (L-GPC), both produced in the liver, mark for the presence of fatty liver disease. Low L-GPC levels were also found to be specifically associated with hepatic insulin resistance.

Media Contact:
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Historically, GWAS have identified risk loci for some diseases but studies have been limited in size, the effect size of the associations have typically been relatively small, and an immediate biological linkage or understanding is often missing. The newly published study overcomes many of these limitations.

“This is by far the most comprehensive GWAS to investigate the association of biochemical levels in blood with human genetics,” said Dr. John Ryals, President and CEO of Metabolon. “The associations uncovered in this work provide new functional insights for many disease-related associations that have been reported in previous studies, including cardiovascular and kidney disorders, type 2 diabetes, cancer, gout, venous thromboembolism, and Crohn’s disease.”

Metabolomic profiling was performed on fasting serum collected from 2,820 individuals who were participants in the German KORA F4 study (n=1,768) or the British TwinsUK study (n=1,052). As such, it is the most comprehensive evaluation of genetic variance in human metabolism to date, combining genetics and metabolomics for hypothesis generation in a GWAS. The researchers identified 37 genetic loci associated with blood metabolite concentrations, of which 25 exhibit effect sizes that are unusually high for GWAS, accounting for 10-60% of metabolite levels per allele copy. Further, 23 of these loci describe new genetic associations with metabolic traits and 14 replicate and extend our knowledge of known associations. In one example, the function for the locus SLC16A9 as a carnitine efflux transporter, suggested by the association between the gene and metabolites, was experimentally validated.

“Using Metabolon’s technology platform we measured more than 250 metabolites covering over 60 biochemical pathways, analyzing a total of 2820 individual blood samples from two separate cohorts rapidly (24 minutes/sample) and with low median process variability (<12%),” emphasized Dr. Mike Milburn, Metabolon’s Chief Scientific Officer.

This study establishes biochemistry, perhaps the most easily measured genetic trait, as an intermediate to provide a biological link that contributes to the understanding of the genetic effects and more effectively impacts discovery and development of individualized biomarkers and therapies.

“The exceptionally large effect sizes of 10-60% per allele copy for 25 specific loci suggests that testing biochemical levels—beyond inborn errors of metabolism—is likely an excellent way of understanding individual uniqueness and can potentially increase the development of personalized medicine,” said Dr. Craig Venter, Founder and President of the J. Craig Venter Institute and a Scientific Advisor to Metabolon.

The article has been published in the journal Nature and may be accessed by this link: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v477/n7362/full/nature10354.html

Media Contact:
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

New investors include Keating Capital

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (August 29, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling technology, announced today that it has secured $13.1 million in a Series D financing.

New investor Keating Capital, Inc. joins existing investors including Sevin Rosen Funds, Aurora Funds, Harris & Harris Group (Nasdaq:TINY), Syngenta Ventures, Fletcher Spaght and Fulcrum Financial Partners in the round.

Keating Capital, founded in 2008, is a publicly reporting business development company that specializes in making pre-IPO investments in innovative, high-growth companies that are committed to and capable of becoming public. “We’re very impressed with Metabolon’s disruptive technology and commercial success. Its diagnostic portfolio is targeting disease areas where there is a significant unmet clinical need and we’re excited to become a part of the team,” said Timothy J. Keating, CEO of Keating Capital.

Commenting on the fundraising, John Ryals, president and chief executive officer of Metabolon, said, “We are pleased by the participation of current investors in the Series D round, and are delighted to have esteemed new investor Keating Capital among our backers. We have recorded a 45% revenue CAGR since 2007, and expect 2011 revenues to be approximately $20 million. The proceeds of this financing will support further growth in our Metabolytics division and ongoing development of our oncology diagnostics product portfolio.”

Metabolon offers global biochemical profiling services (Metabolytics) to researchers working in drug safety and toxicology, bioprocess optimization, consumer products and other areas that benefit from insight into complex biochemical processes and how they change in response to experimental variables.

The company’s technology has been used to identify biochemical biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of clinical diagnostics. These markers are being applied to the development of proprietary diagnostic tools, initially for prostate cancer and insulin resistance.

Media Contact:
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Managing Energetic Stress is Key to Increased Acute Lung Injury Survival in Mice

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (August 23, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announces the publication of “Integrative Metabolome and Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Discordant Energetic Stress Between Mouse Strains with Differential Sensitivity to Acrolein-Induced Acute Lung Injury” in The Molecular Nutrition and Food Research Journal. The study was conducted by James Fabrisiak, George Leikauf and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh and SoonChun Hyang University in collaboration with Metabolon scientists.

Analysis of the lung metabolomes of two genetically distinct inbred strains of mice (SM/J and 129X1/SvJ) that are susceptible (SM/J) or resistant (129X1/SvJ) to acrolein-induced acute lung injury provided insights into the role of the lung as a metabolic organ as well as the pathogenesis and genetic basis of acute lung injury. The study showed that a metabolomic signature of energetic stress is associated with acrolein exposure. Some response patterns such as changes in metabolites involved in histidine metabolism and the Krebs cycle appeared relatively conserved between the susceptible and resistant strains. Other metabolites (e.g., phenylalanine/tyrosine metabolites) changed in similar directions but differed in magnitude and/or speed of response which may reflect the differential sensitivity to succumbing to acute lung injury. Notably, the mouse strain sensitive to acute lung injury exhibited diminished ability to generate metabolites of fatty acid β-oxidation, both before and during acrolein exposure. These findings suggest that the ability to invoke auxiliary energy generating pathways rapidly and effectively may be critical in enhancing survival.

George Leikauf of University of Pittsburgh stated that, "The inability to mount an integrated energetic response to an environmental stress by the SM/J mouse points out the importance of rapid and effective activation of auxiliary energy generating pathways for survival. These findings provide new insights into the metabolic basis for the poorer health outcomes faced by patients with acute lung injury."

Remarking on the study, Metabolon CEO John Ryals said, “Acrolein is a health hazard caused by overheating cooking oils or by cooking using biomass fuels like wood or alcohol. It is also present in environmental tobacco smoke. As a consequence, its effects on the population are of great concern. We hope these results will lead to further investigation into this chemical and its impact on the lung.

The article is available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21823223.

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemicalbiomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Researchers Identify Potential Biomarkers of Kidney Cancer and Show the Value of a Novel Class of Metabolites that May Lead to New Therapeutic Approaches

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (August 11, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announces the publication of studies in two peer-reviewed journals that support the use of metabolomics in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney cancer.  The studies were conducted by Robert Weiss, M.D. of the Cancer Center at the University of California Davis and colleagues at the University’s Departments of Public Health Sciences and Internal Medicine in collaboration with Metabolon scientists. 

The first study, “Urine Metabolomic Analysis Identifies Potential Biomarkers and Pathogenic Pathways in Kidney Cancer,” used metabolomics techniques to identify metabolites in the urine of patients with kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma, RCC) that appear at different levels compared with patients without kidney cancer.  The levels of quinolinate, 4-hydroxybenzoate and gentisate, metabolites involved in common biochemical pathways of specific amino acid and energy metabolism, were significantly different in urine from RCC patients.  This result is consistent with protein breakdown and utilization as well as the Warburg effect in kidney cancer tumors.  Further, the investigators showed that addition of quinolinate, or α-ketoglutarate, which increased significantly in kidney cancer, stimulated growth in RCC cell lines more than addition of gentisate, which decreased. 

The article has been published online in OMICS, A Journal of Integrative Biology and may be accessed by this link:  http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/omi.2010.0094

The second study, “Urinary Acyl-carnitines Are Altered in Human Kidney Cancer,” compared urine samples from patients with and without kidney cancer, using metabolomics.  This study found increases in urinary acyl-carnitines in patients with kidney cancer, with the highest levels associated with high cancer grades.  Analysis of a Caki1 mouse xenograft model of human kidney cancer suggest the acyl-carnitines are from tumor tissue and may reflect alterations in metabolism or in cell component synthesis.  Since higher chain length acyl-carnitines have an inhibitory effect on NF-kB activation, these metabolites may also reflect changes in immune surveillance, and may help explain the profound chemotherapy resistance seen with this cancer.  This study shows for the first time the value of a novel class of metabolites that may lead to new therapeutic approaches for kidney cancer and may prove useful in future cancer biomarker studies.

The article has been published online in The International Journal of Cancer and may be accessed by this link:  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.26274/abstract

According to Dr. Weiss, “These studies help advance our knowledge of the seventh most common cancer in the Western world, which unfortunately, typically is diagnosed at a late stage when patient survival statistics are grim.  Currently there are no useful biofluid markers for this disease, so diagnosis is dependent on imaging techniques that are not generally used for screening.  Further evaluation of metabolomics analysis, as well as confirmation of the specific potential biomarkers using a larger cohort will lead to new avenues of kidney cancer diagnosis and therapy.”

“These research findings potentially open a new area of investigation into the metabolic basis of kidney cancer,” said John Ryals, CEO of Metabolon. “We look forward to better understanding tumor metabolism in an effort to provide leading-edge methods to diagnose kidney cancer at an earlier stage, where therapies oftentimes are more effective.”

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform.  It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method.  Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise.  Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression.  For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske at mzaske@metabolon.com or 919-595-2200.

Media Contact

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates
Mackenzie Mills
mmills@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Diabetes animal model study reveals that modifying one metabolite in diet can improve whole body metabolism

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (July 11, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announced today the publication of “Dietary Leucine - An Environmental Modifier of Insulin Resistance Acting on Multiple Levels of Metabolism” in PLoS One (PLoS ONE 6(6): e21187.doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0021187). Non-targeted biochemical profiling (metabolomics) provided insight into the biochemical mechanisms of leucine’s effects on metabolism. The study was carried out by lead investigator C. Ron Kahn, M.D. and colleagues at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School and Metabolon.

The researchers evaluated the effects of leucine supplements on metabolism and insulin signaling in a mouse model of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. They showed that a dietary increase in leucine, a branched chain amino acid, improved glucose tolerance, prevented fatty liver, reduced obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation and rescued insulin signaling in muscle, liver and fat. By using a global metabolic profiling approach the investigators were able to follow leucine metabolism in serum, liver, fat and muscle in the high fat diet-(HFD)-induced obesity mice. The metabolomic analysis showed leucine supplementation resulted in changes in multiple metabolic pathways involving protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Notably, leucine addition to a high fat diet restored the metabolic profile of the animals to the profile found in mice fed a control diet.

Commenting on the study, collaborator, Dr. Kahn, Head of Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said, “These findings point to the importance of even small changes in diet on metabolism and diabetes risk, and how important it is to be able to measure the full range of metabolite changes that altering the diet can affect.”

The article has been published on-line in PLoS One and may be accessed by this link: Dietary Leucine – an Environmental Modifier of Insulin Resistance Acting on Multiple Levels of Metabolism

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Tandem mass spectrometry test run in Company’s CLIA registered laboratory

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (July 06, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announced today that it is now offering a tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) test for detection of Vitamin D deficiency. The test is being run in Metabolon’s high-complexity CLIA registered laboratory in Research Triangle Park, NC. This test is available for patient testing.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D deficiency is being studied in connection to diabetes, hypertension, and autoimmune conditions. Vitamin D is also responsible for helping the body to absorb calcium; if deficient this can lead to the development of soft, thin and brittle bones, conditions known as rickets and osteomalacia. With twenty-five percent of the U.S. population at risk for Vitamin D inadequacy, Metabolon’s test would help detect insufficient levels of the vitamin before levels fall into deficient zones; empowering physician’s to implement personalized treatment regimens for patients in an effort to prevent further or future disease.

In order to establish the highest standard of patient care, the company is seeking accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), which is recognized worldwide as the gold standard for clinical laboratory quality.

“As the number of Vitamin D deficient patients continues to rise in the U.S., our test and in-house CLIA lab will allow physicians to more efficiently and effectively diagnose and devise personalized treatment regimens for patients at risk for this condition and its consequences,“ stated John Ryals, CEO of Metabolon. “Furthermore, our application for CAP accreditation reinforces Metabolon’s commitment to providing the highest standards of quality in our pursuit to fulfill the promise of personalized medicine.”

Following the Vitamin D launch, Metabolon’s proprietary test for insulin resistance, Quantose™ IR, will be available soon in the CLIA lab for Investigational Use Only.

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Analyses of biomarkers provides insight into the identification of patients at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (June 24, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announced today that two posters highlighting the Company’s research into insulin resistance biomarkers will be presented at the American Diabetes Association Meeting in San Diego, June 24-28. The posters demonstrate how insulin resistance markers can be utilized in identifying people at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes or fatty liver disease.

The first two posters will be displayed in the ADA designated poster section, will be presented as audio poster tours on Saturday, June 25 from 11:30a.m. -12:30p.m, and will be attended by their presenters on Monday, June 27, from 12:00p.m.-2:00p.m. The third poster was accepted as a Late Breaking ADA abstract and will be attended to on Sunday, June 26 from 12:00p.m.-2:00pm.

“Metabolic Markers of Insulin Sensitivity Predict Progression to IGT and T2D”, will be presented by Walt Gall, Ph.D., Metabolon, Inc.; the study demonstrated that the measurement of a panel of insulin resistance markers in a fasting plasma sample can identify high-risk insulin resistant subjects with high accuracy. This measurement can also predict the progression to impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Abstract # 1512-P.

“Alpha-Hydroxybutyrate and Linoleoyl-Glycerophosphocholine as New Markers of Fatty Liver Disease”, will be presented by Amalia Gastaldelli, Ph.D., CNRS, Pisa, Italy; the study determined that raised plasma concentrations of Alpha-Hydroxybutyrate (a-HB) and Linoleoyl-Glycerophosphocholine(L-GPC), both produced in the liver, mark for the presence of fatty liver disease. Low L-GPC levels were also found to be specifically associated with hepatic insulin resistance. Abstract # 1667-P.

“Metabolite Quantitative Trait Loci (mQTL) and Their Role in Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Sensitivity,” will be presented by Weijia Xie, University of Exeter, UK; the study determined that a number of metabolites associated with the gold standard measure of insulin sensitivity were associated with diabetes-related loci such as FADS, with a novel GWAS association identified for the top amino acid associated with insulin sensitivity, glycine, having an association with an allele in an aldehyde dehydrogenase, ALDH1L1. These genetic association findings may increase our understanding at the gene level of why certain metabolite levels are abnormal with insulin resistance and development of type 2 diabetes. Abstract # 0073-LB– Late Breaking ADA Abstract.

Commenting on the poster presentations, Metabolon CEO, John Ryals said, “We are excited to share these results at the ADA, the largest gathering of medical professionals in the fight against diabetes. Metabolomics is a very powerful approach to identifying chemical biomarkers, especially biomarkers of disease. The data presented here on insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, which affects an estimated 79 million people in the U.S. alone, moves Metabolon closer to advancing our plans to fulfill the promise of personalized medicine."

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabalytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (June 17, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announces that it was awarded two new US Patents. With the grant of these patents Metabolon currently holds 17 US Patents related to its biochemical profiling methods, data analysis solutions and biomarkers for disease and toxicity.

US Patent 7,947,453 “Methods for Drug Discovery, Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Using Metabolomics” was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 24, 2011. It is the tenth patent to issue from the fundamental Daouk-Kristal “metabolomics methods” patent family. The ‘453 patent provides a method to predict an individual’s drug response, thereby facilitating personalized medical treatment, such as for cancer chemotherapy, and treatments for metabolic disorders and depression.

US Patent 7,9490,475 “System and Method for Analyzing Metabolomic Data” was also granted by the USPTO on May 24, 2011. The ‘475 patent provides a unique visual display of metabolomic data generated by multiple analytical platforms, including GC-MS and LC-MS, and MS/MS. With this technology Metabolon scientists are able to simultaneously evaluate a series of raw and complex data sets in a single comprehensive visual display. It is a critical component of Metabolon’s ability to quickly identify compounds with high confidence and identify biomarkers.

"These patents support our intellectual property strategy for our biomarker and biochemical analysis program, which will aid in predicting drug responses in individuals and identifying disease biomarkers for more personalized treatment," said John Ryals, Metabolon president and CEO. “With 17 issued US patents broadly covering metabolomics methods and software, Metabolon has assembled the dominant IP position in the field of metabolomics.”

Metabolon is the exclusive license holder of the Daouk-Kristal patent family which is comprised of early, pioneering patents and patent applications which provide fundamental IP in the field of metabolomics. Metabolon’s previously issued patents include the use of metabolomics for determining biomarkers for disease, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, depression and schizophrenia. Metabolon also owns patents relating to disease biomarkers and for software designed for analyzing metabolomics data.

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (June 09, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and analysis, announces the publication of “Identification of Metabolites in the Normal Ovary and Their Transformation in Primary and Metastatic Ovarian Cancer”, in PLOS One (PLoS ONE 6(5): 319963.). The application of non-targeted biochemical profiling (metabolomics) to human ovary tissue revealed altered metabolism in primary epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and metastatic tumors resulting from primary ovarian cancer (MOC). The study provides the first catalog of the metabolome of the human ovary and how cancer changes its composition. The work was carried out by co-authors Miranda Y. Fong and Sham S. Kakar from the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY in collaboration with Metabolon scientists.

The human ovary metabolome was found to contain over 360 metabolites. Significant changes in energy utilization and an enhanced oxidative stress response coincided with primary epithelial ovarian cancer and metastatic tumors. In addition, N-acetylaspartate and N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate, novel metabolites in the ovary, were identified, although the role of these molecules in ovarian physiology has not yet been determined. The biochemical changes observed provide insight into the biochemical consequences of transformation and provide candidate biomarkers of ovarian oncogenesis. Future validation studies will determine the clinical utility of these observations for diagnosis and clinical management of ovarian cancer patients.

Copies of the paper can be accessed:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0019963

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (June 08, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and analysis, announces the publication of ”Metabolomics Analysis Reveals Elevation of 3-Indoxyl Sulfate in Plasma and Brain during Chemically-induced Acute Kidney Injury in Mice: Investigation of Nicotinic Acid Receptor Agonists”, in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.05.015). The study was authored by Dr. Joanna R. Zgoda-Pols and colleagues at Merck Research Laboratories in New Jersey and scientists at Metabolon.

Early predictive biomarkers of acute kidney injury (AKI) are essential to identify nephrotoxicity in preclinical model species and, particularly, in human patients. To identify AKI biomarkers that could recognize AKI early as well as aid in a better mechanistic understanding of SCH 900424-induced AKI in mice, Metabolon and Merck toxicologists performed a global metabolomics study on mouse blood plasma and urine. The metabolomics study revealed that 3-indoxyl sulfate (3IS), a renal toxin that accumulates in blood of uremic patients or animals, is a more sensitive marker of SCH900424-induced renal toxicity than the traditional kidney toxicity biomarkers, creatinine or urea. Furthermore, accumulation of 3IS in blood or tissues was not observed when the animals were treated with a closely related structural analog of SCH900424 that does not induce AKI (negative control). Development of a 3IS-specific quantitative LC-MS assay to analyze biofluids and tissues allowed for measuring accumulation of 3IS in SCH900424-treated mice, validating the metabolomics results. In summary, this paper demonstrates the ability to use global metabolomics to discover a mechanistically linked early biomarker of AKI that was further validated in an independent specific assay using a negative control test article.

Copies of the paper can be accessed:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041008X11002031

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (May 4, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announces that it was awarded US Patent 7,910,301 “Methods for Drug Discovery, Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Using Metabolomics” by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on March 22, 2011. This is the ninth patent to issue from the fundamental Daouk-Kristal “metabolomics methods” patent family.

The ‘301 patent is directed to identifying small molecules that are affected by a drug or a toxin using metabolomics. It provides a method to evaluate chemical agents for drug effects and toxicity, thereby facilitating pre-clinical and clinical drug development activities. The patent extends Metabolon’s IP related to the use of metabolomics beyond disease biomarker discovery into uses of metabolomics for drug discovery and development.

Metabolon is the exclusive license holder of the Daouk-Kristal patent family which is comprised of early, pioneering patents and patent applications which provide fundamental IP in the field of metabolomics. Metabolon’s previously issued patents include the use of metabolomics for determining biomarkers for all diseases, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, depression and schizophrenia. Metabolon also owns patents relating to disease biomarkers and for software designed for analyzing metabolomics data.

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

Data targeted at improving drought tolerance in crops

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (April 28, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announces the publication of “A Sister Group Contrast Using Untargeted Global Metabolomic Analysis Delineates the Biochemical Regulation Underlying Desiccation Tolerance in Sporobolus stapfianus” in The Plant Cell Online (April 2011, tpc.110.082800). Non-targeted biochemical profiling (metabolomics) provided insight into the biochemical mechanisms underlying plant drought tolerance. The study was carried out by Dr. Melvin J. Oliver and colleagues, USDA-ARS scientists at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Dr. Bernard W.M. Wone and John C. Cushman and colleagues at the University of Nevada in Reno, and Dr. John Ryals, Dr. Lining Guo, and Dr. Danny Alexander at Metabolon, Inc.

To develop novel strategies for improving drought tolerance in crops, understanding how plants tolerate dehydration is a prerequisite. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis of two sister grass species, the desiccation-tolerant (DT) Sporobolus stapfianus and the desiccation-sensitive (DS) Sporobolus pyramidalis, revealed adaptive metabolic responses to dehydration. Drought tolerance was associated with higher concentrations of osmolytes, lower concentrations of metabolites associated with energy metabolism, and higher concentrations of nitrogen metabolites in the fully watered state, suggesting that the drought tolerant species is primed metabolically for dehydration stress. Under water stress a metabolic shift toward the production of protective compounds was observed in the drought tolerant plants. Biochemical alterations associated with drought tolerance included antioxidant production, nitrogen remobilization, ammonia detoxification, and soluble sugar production. Collectively, the metabolic profiles obtained uncovered a cascade of biochemical regulation strategies critical to the survival of S. stapfianus under desiccation.

The article has been published on-line in The Plant Cell Advance Online Publication and may be accessed by this link: http://www.plantcell.org/cgi/content/short/tpc.110.082800?keytype=ref&ijkey=Us2ieUvNLMCDb6D

About Metabolon
Metabolon, Inc. has advanced the field of metabolomics by pioneering and patenting the industry’s leading biochemical biomarker discovery and profiling platform. It has developed the technology to quickly identify and measure all of the biochemicals in a biological sample through its proprietary global processing method. Through the generation and interpretation of data, this method provides a precise understanding of disease etiology and drug action, and advances personalized medicine beyond what genomics and other approaches can promise. Metabolon’s expertise is being embraced by a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and agricultural companies. Metabolytics, its biomarker discovery and analysis business, has completed over 320 client studies and processed over 30,000 samples for customers in 2010 alone. Building on its expertise in biochemistry understanding, Metabolon is also developing proprietary diagnostic tests to determine and track disease progression. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (March 17, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announces the receipt of a Certificate of Registration from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) for its new facility on Davis Drive in Research Triangle Park, NC. The CLIA registration allows Metabolon’s clinical laboratory to perform high-complexity tests on patient samples. Later this year, the company plans to launch tests for insulin resistance and urological cancers based upon biochemical biomarkers the company discovered using its proprietary metabolomic profiling technology platform.

John Ryals, Metabolon’s president and chief executive officer said, “CLIA certification is an important step in our strategy to derive further economic value from our sophisticated approach to biomarker discovery while advancing our plans to fulfill the promise of personalized medicine.”

About Metabolon
Metabolon is a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling platform. Metabolon’s patented platform provides a global analysis of complex biological samples for the discovery of markers and pathways associated with drug action and disease. This metabolomics-driven approach enables the identification of biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of diagnostics and provides insight into complex biochemical processes such as drug action, toxicology and bioprocess optimization. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

Media Contact
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Megan Rusnack
mrusnack@lhai.com
212-838-3777

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (March 02, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and analysis, announces the publication of “Profiling the effects of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations on the cellular metabolome”, in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS 108 (8) 3270-3275). Application of non-targeted biochemical profiling (metabolomics) to mutant IDH1- and IDH2-expressing human oligodendroglioma (HOG) cells revealed altered metabolism in the cells and provided clues to the pathogenesis of tumors with IDH1 and IDH2 mutations. The study was performed by co-authors Hai Yan and colleagues from Duke University Medical Center and Bert Vogelstein and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the metabolomic profiling was carried out at Metabolon.

IDH1 and IDH2 mutations have been associated with central nervous system tumors (gliomas) that respond poorly to therapy. The genes encode NADP⁺-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases, enzymes that convert iso-citrate to a-ketoglutarate. The mutant enzymes gain ability to produce 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) which accumulates to high levels in the cells. Metabolomic profiling discovered altered levels of amino acids, lipid pre-cursors and TCA intermediates in HOG cells expressing the mutant IDH genes and the altered metabolite levels were similar to those observed when the cells were treated with 2HG. The authors propose that deregulation of the TCA cycle and disrupted electron transport provide building blocks that lead to cell proliferation at the expense of nutrient production. Dramatically reduced levels of the most common brain dipeptide, N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG), were observed in the cells. NAAG levels were also significantly lower in human gliomas containing the IDH mutations than those without. While the contribution of NAAG to pathogenesis is unclear, it may provide a therapeutic target and its role merits further investigation. The study showed that metabolomics analysis provided mechanistic insight into metabolic alterations in tumor cells that will be useful to design therapies targeted to cancer cell metabolism without harming non-cancer tissue.

Copies of the paper can be accessed: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/02/01/1019393108.abstract.

About Metabolon
Metabolon is a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling platform. Metabolon’s patented platform provides a global analysis of complex biological samples for the discovery of markers and pathways associated with drug action and disease. This metabolomics-driven approach enables the identification of biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of diagnostics and provides insight into complex biochemical processes such as drug action, toxicology and bioprocess optimization. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (February 08, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and analysis, announced today the grant of US Patent No. 7,884,318 entitled “Systems, Methods, and Computer-Readable Medium for Determining Composition of Chemical Constituents in a Complex Mixture”. The USPTO awarded the patent to Metabolon on February 08, 2011. This is the 14^th patent issued to Metabolon and the third patent in its growing portfolio of technology-related patents.

The newly issued patent claims are directed to Metabolon’s UHPLC/MSⁿ-based analytical platform that integrates non-targeted chemical analysis of complex mixtures, including identification and relative quantification, data reduction and quality assurance components of the process and addresses the challenges associated with this type of analyses, such as identification of chemical structures and elimination of experimental artifacts. The ability to perform non-targeted analysis, including initial detection and subsequent recognition of unknown metabolites, has enormous benefits and a broad range of highly useful applications. In addition to answering questions posed by traditional chemical analysis, such as “What is this substance made of?”, more sophisticated analyses of biological processes, such as “How is a healthy cell different from a diseased cell?”, “How does this medicine affect the cellular process?”, “How can the growth of cells in culture be optimized?”, and “What is the limiting factor for this bioprocess?” are made possible.

Metabolon is the exclusive license holder of the Daouk-Kristal patent family which is comprised of early, pioneering patents and patent applications which provide fundamental IP in the field of metabolomics. Metabolon’s previously issued patents include the use of metabolomics for determining biomarkers for disease, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, depression and schizophrenia, and for evaluating chemical agents for therapeutic effects and toxicity. Metabolon also owns issued patents relating to biomarkers of age and hepatotoxicity as well as to software designed for analyzing metabolomics data.

About Metabolon
Metabolon is a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling platform. Metabolon’s patented platform provides a global analysis of complex biological samples for the discovery of markers and pathways associated with drug action and disease. This metabolomics-driven approach enables the identification of biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of diagnostics and provides insight into complex biochemical processes such as drug action, toxicology and bioprocess optimization. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (January 06, 2011) — Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics, biomarker discovery and analysis, announces the publication of “Metabolomic Distinction and Insights into the Pathogenesis of Human Primary Dilated Cardiomyopathy”, in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation. Metabolon’s non-targeted biochemical profiling (metabolomics) platform was used to identify biochemical biomarkers of primary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and potential therapeutic targets for DCM. The study was carried out by Metabolon scientists in collaboration with A. J. Marin and colleagues from The University of Texas Health Science Center and Texas Heart Institute at Houston.

The advent of ACE inhibitors and ß-blockers has provided significant advances in the treatment of systolic heart failure. Yet, the mortality and morbidity of heart failure patients remains high and the incidence of the disease continues to increase. In this report the authors showed the utility of Metabolon’s biochemical profiling technology to provide insight into cardiac metabolism in patients with primary DCM. Changes in several bioactive plasma metabolites related to oxidative stress such as indole-3-propionate (IPA) and stachydrine were measured in DCM patients. In addition, results from Metabolon’s global, non-targeted analysis suggest a role of the gastrointestinal tract and gut microflora in heart failure.

Copies of the paper can be accessed at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2010.02441.x/abstract;jsessionid=A94691A74910302D1F17B3F9210169B3.d02t02

About Metabolon
Metabolon is a diagnostics and services company offering the industry’s leading biochemical profiling platform. Metabolon’s patented platform provides a global analysis of complex biological samples for the discovery of markers and pathways associated with drug action and disease. This metabolomics-driven approach enables the identification of biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of diagnostics and provides insight into complex biochemical processes such as drug action, toxicology and bioprocess optimization. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com or contact Matt Zaske mzaske@metabolon.com at (919) 595-2200.