NOTICE:

In 2010, Optherion completed two separate business transactions, one related to its diagnostics business and one related to its therapeutics business.

With respect to its diagnostics business, in February, 2010, Optherion completed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Sequenom, Inc.. Under the agreement, Sequenom’s CAP accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory, Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (Sequenom CMM), obtained the rights to develop and commercialize diagnostic tests to predict genetic predisposition to late stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Please see News Room at Optherion.com for Sequenom’s press release.

With respect to its therapeutics business, also in 2010, Optherion completed a business transaction with another company. Both the company name and the transaction economics are confidential.

As a result of these two transactions, Optherion, itself, is no longer actively developing any diagnostics or therapeutics. Given this, the Optherion.com website has not been updated since year-end, 2010 albeit the nature of Optherion’s diagnostic and therapeutic endeavors are accurately represented in the website for the time period prior to the transactions.

Kindest regards,

Colin J. Foster
President & CEO
Optherion, Inc.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Complement Factor B (CFB)

Polymorphisms in C2, CFB and C3 are associated with progression to Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration associated with visual loss.
  • Francis PJ, Hamon SC, Ott J, Weleber RG, Klein ML
  • J Med Genet. 2008 Nov 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Further assessment of the Complement Component 2 and Factor B region associated with Age-related Macular Degeneration
  • McKay GJ, Silvestri G, Patterson CC, Hogg RE, Chakravarthy U, Hughes AE
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Analysis of rare variants in the complement component 2 (C2) and Factor B (BF) genes refine association for age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • Richardson AJ, Islam FA, Guymer RH, Baird PN
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008 Sep 20 [Epub ahead of print]
Age-related macular degeneration: a perspective on genetic studies
  • Patel N, Adewoyin t, Chong NV
  • Eye 2008 June; 22(6): 768-76. Epub 2007 May 11
C2 and CFB genes in age-related maculopathy and joint action with CFH and LOC387715 genes
  • Jakobsdottir J, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Ferrell RE, Gorin MB
  • PLoS ONE 2008 May 21;3(5):e2199
Protective effect of complement factor B and complement component 2 variants in age-related macular degeneration
  • Spencer KL, Hauser MA, Olson LM, Schmidt S, Scott WK, Gallins P, Agarwal A, Postel EA, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines JL
  • Hum Mol Genet, 2007 Aug 15;16(16):1986-92,Epub 2007 Jun 18
Variation in factor B (BF) and complement component 2 (C2) genes is associated with age-related macular degeneration
  • Gold B, Merriam JE, Zernant J, Hancox LS, Taiber AJ, Gehrs K, Cramer K, Neel J, Bergeron J, Barile GR, Smith RT; AMD Genetics Clinical Study Group, Hageman GS, Dean M, Allikmets R.
  • Nat Genet 2006 Apr; 38(4): 458-62. Epub 2006 Mar 5