Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (OTCQB: ILIU) today announced the introduction of PerioPredict™, the Company’s new, next-generation version of the PST® genetic risk test for periodontal disease. PerioPredict™ will be broadly available beginning January 2014.
RELATED: New CDC report on health disparities includes chapter on disparities in periodontitis
Like the original PST® test, PerioPredict™ measures variations in the genes for Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a key mediator of inflammation, and identifies individuals who are at an increased risk for more severe periodontal (gum) disease. The new and improved sample collection device now utilizes a simple, easy-to-use cheek swab. The new test also utilizes an expansion of previous genetic markers that now cover all major ethnic groups including Hispanic, African-American, and Asian, in addition to Caucasian.
PerioPredict™ is quick, easy, and painless. It is performed by dentists or dental hygienists in about a minute during a routine exam or cleaning. The sample is then sent to Interleukin Genetics, Inc., a CLIA-certified genetics laboratory, for analysis. Test results are returned to the dentist in about two weeks.
“We are proud to introduce PerioPredict™, an innovative, easy-to-use tool to help dental professionals identify individuals with a higher risk of progressing to more severe periodontal disease, and therefore better align preventative care to an individual patient’s needs,” said Dr. Kenneth Kornman, Chief Executive Officer of Interleukin Genetics. “We are actively preparing for the formal launch in January 2014 and our CLIA-certified lab stands ready to receive and process patient samples. Over the long term, we believe that PerioPredict™ offers the potential to improve outcomes for dental patients and ultimately reduce long-term oral healthcare expenses.”
The original PST® genetic risk test, originally introduced to dentistry in 1997, was the first genetic test to identify an individual’s risk for developing periodontal disease. PerioPredict™ was used in a recent landmark research study titled “Patient Stratification for Preventive Dental Care”, which was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Dental Research in June 2013. The study provided important new insights into the prevention of periodontal disease and the significant opportunity to improve oral health through a personalized approach to preventive care.
Nearly half of the adult population has periodontitis, a bacterially induced, chronic inflammation of the gums. Prevention and treatment of periodontitis contributes substantially to the $108 billion spent annually in the U.S. on dental care.
PerioPredict™ is solely available through Interleukin Genetics. For more information, visit www.PerioPredict.com. The original PST test is no longer available through any of its former distributors.
For additional details, the study titled “Patient Stratification for Preventive Dental Care” Giannobile et al. 2013, published in the Journal of Dental Research, can be accessed online.
_________________________________________________________
RELATED:
Drug currently used to treat intestinal worms could protect against periodontitis, according to recent study
The link between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease: A brief overview
_________________________________________________________
