For years, scientists have tried to determine the basis for discrepancies between race and the predisposition for development of diseases such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Could factors such as differences in lifestyle or access to health care play a role, or is there something else in play?

Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ:CGEN) announced the discovery and experimental confirmation of a genetic biomarker, CGEN-40001 for predisposition to type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. This new biomarker was discovered using Compugen’s GeneVa® platform, which consists of an in silico database of approximately 350,000 predicted genetic variations in the human genome, with each predicted [...]

Genes May Determine Susceptibility to H5N1 Avian Influenza A Virus Infection
A new study found genetic variations in mice affect their susceptibility to and severity of H5N1 avian influenza A virus infection suggesting that humans who contract the virus may be genetically predisposed. The researchers from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, VA Medical Center and MidSouth [...]

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) announced it will conduct a head-to-head study of Plavix® (clopidogrel) and Effient® (prasugrel) that measures how the effectiveness of these drugs in heart patients is impacted by their genetic make-up. The study will examine whether the 70 to 75 percent of patients who are “extensive metabolizers” of clopidogrel – [...]

A new genome-wide association study published in Nature Genetics begins to uncover the basis of genetic variations in eight blood measurements and the impact those variants can have on common human diseases. Blood measurements, including the number and volume of cells in the blood, are routinely used to diagnose a wide range of disorders, including [...]