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 H (CFH)

The pivotal role of the complement system in aging and age-related macular degeneration: hypothesis re-visited.
  • Anderson DH, Radeke MJ, Gallo NB, Chapin EA, Johnson PT, Curletti CR, Hancox LS, Hu J, Ebright JN, Malek G, Hauser MA, Rickman CB, Bok D, Hageman GS, Johnson LV.
  • Prog Retin Eye Res. 2010 Mar;29(2):95-112
Complement factor H polymorphism in age-related maculopathy in the Chinese population: the Beijing Eye Study.
  • Gao Y, Li Y, Xu L, Li Y, Zhang HT, Jonas JB, Sun BC.
  • Retina. 2010 Mar;30(3):443-6
Noncoding variant in the complement factor H gene and risk of exudative age-related macular degeneration in a Chinese population.
  • Cui L, Zhou H, Yu J, Sun E, Zhang Y, Jia W, Jiao Y, Snellingen T, Liu X, Lim A, Wang N, Liu N.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Feb;51(2):1116-20
The molecular genetic basis of age-related macular degeneration: an overview.
  • Katta S, Kaur I, Chakrabarti S.
  • J Genet. 2009 Dec;88(4):425-49.
An ecological correlation study of late age-related macular degeneration and the complement factor H Y402H polymorphism.
  • Nonyane BA, Nitsch D, Whittaker JC, Sofat R, Smeeth L, Chakravarthy U, Fletcher AE.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Dec 30
Variations in five genes and the severity of age-related macular degeneration: results from the Muenster aging and retina study.
  • Farwick A, Dasch B, Weber BH, Pauleikhoff D, Stoll M, Hense HW.
  • Eye (Lond). 2009 Dec;23(12):2238-44.
Plasma complement components and activation fragments: associations with age-related macular degeneration genotypes and phenotypes.
  • Reynolds R, Hartnett ME, Atkinson JP, Giclas PC, Rosner B, Seddon JM.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Dec;50(12):5818-27
Complement factor H and the bilaterality of age-related macular degeneration
  • Pai AS, Mitchell P, Rochtchina E, Iyengar S, Wang JJ; Blue Mountains Eye Study.
  • Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Oct;127(10):1339-44.
Multilocus analysis of age-related macular degeneration.
  • Bergeron-Sawitzke J, Gold B, Olsh A, Schlotterbeck S, Lemon K, Visvanathan K, Allikmets R, Dean M.
  • Eur J Hum Genet. 2009 Sep;17(9):1190-9
Complement factor h is critical in the maintenance of retinal perfusion.
  • Lundh von Leithner P, Kam JH, Bainbridge J, Catchpole I, Gough G, Coffey P, Jeffery G.
  • Am J Pathol. 2009 Jul;175(1):412-21. Epub 2009 Jun 18
Coding variant I62V in the complement factor H gene is strongly associated with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
  • Kondo N, Honda S, Kuno S, Negi A.
  • Ophthalmology. 2009 Feb;116(2):304-10.
Unraveling a multifactorial late-onset disease: from genetic susceptibility to disease mechanisms for age-related macular degeneration.
  • Swaroop A, Chew EY, Rickman CB, Abecasis GR.
  • Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2009;10:19-43.
Prediction Model for Prevalence and Incidence of Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration Based on Genetic, Demographic, and Environmental Variables.
  • Seddon JM, Reynolds R, Maller J, Fagerness JA, Daly MJ, Rosner B.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2008 Dec 30. [Epub ahead of print]
Genetic variants in three genes and smoking show strong associations with susceptibility to exudative age-related macular degeneration in a Chinese population.
  • Chu J, Zhou CC, Lu N, Zhang X, Dong FT.
  • Chin Med J (Engl). 2008 Dec 20;121(24):2525-33.
Combined Effects of Complement Factor H Genotypes, Fish Consumption, and Inflammatory Markers on Long-Term Risk for Age-related Macular Degeneration in a Cohort.
  • Wang JJ, Rochtchina E, Smith W, Klein R, Klein BE, Joshi T, Sivakumaran TA, Iyengar S, Mitchell P.
  • Am J Epidemiol, 2008 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print]
Pharmacogenetics of Complement Factor H (Y402H) and treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration with ranibizumab.
  • Lee AY, Raya AK, Kymes SM, Shiels A, Brantley MA Jr.
  • BR J Ophthalmol, 2008 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Analysis of major alleles associated with age-related macular degeneration in patients with multifocal choroiditis: strong association with complement factor H.
  • Ferrara DC, Merriam JE, Freund KB, Spaide RF, Takahashi BS, Zhitomirsky I, Fine HF, Yannuzzi LA, Allikmets R.
  • Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Nov;126(11):1562-6.
CFH and LOC387715/ARMS2 genotypes and antioxidants and zinc therapy for age-related macular degeneration
  • Lee AY, Brantley MA Jr.
  • Pharmacogenomics. 2008 Oct;9(10):1547-50.
Systemic complement activation in age-related macular degeneration.
  • Scholl HP, Charbel Issa P, Walier M, Janzer S, Pollok-Kopp B, Borncke F, Fritsche LG, Chong NV, Fimmers R, Wienker T, Holz FG, Weber BH, Oppermann M.
  • PLoS ONE, 2008 Jul 2;3(7):e2593
CFH and LOC387715/ARMS2 genotypes and treatment with antioxidants and zinc for age-related macular degeneration.
  • Klein ML, Francis PJ, Rosner B, Reynolds R, Hamon SC, Schultz DW, Ott J, Seddon JM.
  • Opthalmology, 2008 Jun;115(6): 1019-25.
Age-related macular degeneration: a perspective on genetic studies.
  • Patel N, Adewoyin T, Chong NV.
  • Eye, 2008 Jun; 22(6):768-76. Epub 2007 May 11.
An analysis of the CFH Y402H genotype in AMD patients and controls from the UK, and response to PDT treatment.
  • Goverdhan SV, Hannan S, Newsom RB, Luff AJ, Griffiths H, Lotery AJ.
  • Eye. 2008 June;22(6):849-54. Epub 2007 Apr 27.
Functional and structural implications of the complement factor H Y402H polymorphism associated with age-related macular degeneration.
  • Ormsby RJ, Ranganathan S, Tong JC, Griggs KM, Dimasi DP, Hewitt AW, Burdon KP, Craig JE, Hoh J, Gordon DL.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008 May;49(5):1763-70
Gene-environment interaction in progression of AMD: the CFH gene, smoking and exposure to chronic infection.
  • Baird PN, Robman LD, Richardson AJ, Dimitrov PN, Tikellis G, McCarty CA, Guymer RH.
  • Hum Mol Genet. 2008 May 1;17(9):1299-305.
Multiple Gene Polymorphisms in the Complement Factor H Gene are Associated with Exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration in Chinese.
  • Ng TK, Chen LJ, Liu DT, Tam PO, Chan WM, Liu K, Hu YJ, Chong KK, Lau CS, Chiang SW, Lam DS, Pang CP.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008 Apr 17
Complement factor H polymorphisms, renal phenotypes and age-related macular degeneration; the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
  • Xing C, Sivakumaran TA, Wang JJ, Rochtchina E, Joshi T, Smith W, Mitchell P, Iyengar SK
  • Genes Immun, 2008 Apr; 9(3):231-9. Epub 2008 Mar 13.
Association of complement factor H and LOC387715 genotypes with response of exudative age-related macular degeneration to photodynamic therapy.
  • Brantley MA Jr, Edelstein SL, King JM, Plotzke MR, Apte RS, Kymes SM, Shiels A.
  • Eye. 2008 Feb 22.
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration risk based on CFH, LOC387715/HTRA1, and smoking.
  • Hughes AE, Orr N, Patterson C, Esfandiary H, Hogg R, McConnell V, Silvestri G, Chakravarthy U.
  • PLoS Med. 2007 Dec;4(12):e355.
Association of complement factor H and LOC387715 genotypes with response of exudative age-related macular degeneration to intravitreal bevacizumab
  • Brantley MA Jr, Fang AM, King JM, Tewari A, Kymes SM, Shiels A.
  • Ophthalmology. 2007 Dec;114(12):2168-73.
Haplotypes in the complement factor H (CFH) gene: associations with drusen and advanced age-related macular degeneration.
  • Francis PJ, Schultz DW, Hamon S, Ott J, Weleber RG, Klein ML.
  • PLoS ONE, 2007 Nov 28; 2(11):e1197.
Complement factor H deficiency in aged mice causes retinal abnormalities and visual dysfunction.
  • Coffey PJ, Gias C, McDermott CJ, Lundh P, Pickering MC, Sethi C, Bird A, Fitzke FW, Maass A, Chen LL, Holder GE, Luthert PJ, Salt TE, Moss SE, Greenwood J.
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Oct 16;104(42):16651-6.
Review of genetics in age relate macular degeneration.
  • Montezuma SR, Sobrin L. Seddon JM.
  • Semin Ophthalmol, 2007 Oct-Dec; 22(4):229-40
Bringing the genetics of macular degeneration into focus
  • Haines JL, Spencer KM, Pericak-Vance MA.
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Oct 9;104(41):16227-32.
Predictive value of multiple genetic testing for age-related macular degeneration
  • Despriet DD, Klaver CC, van Duijn CC, Janssens AC.
  • Arch Ophthalmol. 2007 Sep;125(9):1270-1. Comment on: Arch Ophthalmol. 2007 Sep;125(9):1235-40.
Haplotypes spanning the complement factor H gene are protective against age-related macular degeneration
  • Spencer KL, Hauser MA, Olson LM, Schnetz-Boutaud N, Scott WK, Schmidt S, Gallins P, Agarwal A, Postel EA, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines JL.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Sep;48(9):4277-83.
Defective complement control of factor H (Y402H) and FHL-1 in age-related macular degeneration.
  • Skerka C, Lauer N, Weinberger AA, Keilhauer CN, Suhnel J, Smith R, Schlotzer-Schrehardt U, Fritsche L, Heinen S, Hartmann A, Weber BH, Zipfel PF.
  • Mol Immunol. 2007 Jul;44(13):3398-406. Epub 2007 Mar 30.
Independent effects of complement factor H Y402H polymorphism and cigarette smoking on risk of age-related macular degeneration
  • Scott WK, Schmidt S, Hauser MA, Gallins P, Schnetz-Boutaud N, Spencer KL, Gilbert JR, Agarwal A, Postel EA, Haines JL, Pericak-Vance MA.
  • Ophthalmology. 2007 Jun;114(6):1151-6.
Structure shows that a glycosaminoglycan and protein recognition site in factor H is perturbed by age-related macular degeneration-linked single nucleotide polymorphism.
  • Herbert AP, Deakin JA, Schmidt CQ, Blaum BS, Egan C, Ferreira VP, Pangburn MK, Lyon M, Uhrín D, Barlow PN.
  • J Biol Chem. 2007 Jun 29;282(26):18960-8
Association of CFH Y402H and LOC387715 A69S with progression of age-related macular degeneration.
  • Seddon JM, Francis PJ, George S, Schultz DW, Rosner B, Klein ML
  • JAMA. 2007 Apr 25;297(16):1793-800.
Association of complement factor H Y402H gene polymorphism with different subtypes of exudative age-related macular degeneration.
  • Wegscheider BJ, Weger M, Renner W, Steinbrugger I, März W, Mossböck G, Temmel W, El-Shabrawi Y, Schmut O, Jahrbacher R, Haas A.
  • Ophthalmology. 2007 Apr;114(4):738-42.
Y402H polymorphism of complement factor H affects binding affinity to C-reactive protein.
  • Laine M, Jarva H, Seitsonen S, Haapasalo K, Lehtinen MJ, Lindeman N, Anderson DH, Johnson PT, Jarvela I, Jokiranta TS, Hageman GS, Immonen I, Meri S.
  • J Immunol, 2007 Mar 15;178(6):3831-6
An update on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration.
  • Scholl HP, Fleckenstein M, Charbel Issa P, Keilhauer C, Holz FG, Weber BH
  • Mol Vis. 2007 Feb 7;13:196-205.
Complement factor H polymorphism p. Tyr402His and cuticular Drusen.
  • Grassi MA, Folk JC, Scheetz TE, Taylor CM, Sheffield VC, Stone EM.
  • Arch Ophthalmol, 2007 Jan; 125(1):93-7
A prospective study of 2 major age-related macular degeneration susceptibility alleles and interactions with modifiable risk factors
  • Schaumberg DA, Hankinson SE, Guo Q, Rimm E, Hunter DJ.
  • Arch Ophthalmol. 2007 Jan;125(1):55-62. Comment in: JAMA. 2007 Jan 24;297(4):401-2.
Analysis of the Y402H variant of the complement factor H gene in age-related macular degeneration
  • Baird PN, Islam FM, Richardson AJ, Cain M, Hunt N, Guymer R.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Oct;47(10):4194-8.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between complement factor H Y402H polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration.
  • Thakkinstian A, Han P, McEvoy M, Smith W, Hoh J, Magnusson K, Zhang K, Attia J.
  • Hum Mol Genet. 2006 Sep 15; 15(18):2784-90. Epub 2006 Aug 11.
Common variation in three genes, including a noncoding variant in CFH, strongly influences risk of age-related macular degeneration
  • Maller J, George S, Purcell S, Fagerness J, Altshuler D, Daly MJ, Seddon JM.
  • Nat Genet. 2006 Sep;38(9):1055-9. Epub 2006 Aug 27
His-384 allotypic variant of factor H associated with age-related macular degeneration has different heparin binding properties from the non-disease-associated form.
  • Clark SJ, Higman VA, Mulloy B, Perkins SJ, Lea SM, Sim RB, Day AJ.
  • J Biol Chem. 2006 Aug 25;281(34):24713-20. Epub 2006 Jun 20.
Extended haplotypes in the complement factor H (CFH) and CFH-related (CFHR) family of genes protect against age-related macular degeneration: characterization, ethnic distribution and evolutionary implications
  • Hageman GS, Hancox LS, Taiber AJ, Gehrs KM, Anderson DH, Johnson LV, Radeke MJ, Kavanagh D, Richards A, Atkinson J, Meri S, Bergeron J, Zernant J, Merriam J, Gold B, Allikmets R, Dean M; AMD Clinical Study Group.
  • Ann Med. 2006;38(8):592-604.
Complement factor H polymorphism, complement activators, and risk of age-related macular degeneration
  • Despriet DD, Klaver CC, Witteman JC, Bergen AA, Kardys I, de Maat MP, Boekhoorn SS, Vingerling JR, Hofman A, Oostra BA, Uitterlinden AG, Stijnen T, van Duijn CM, de Jong PT.
  • JAMA. 2006 Jul 19;296(3):301-9.

The Genetics of Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Review of Progress to Date
Haddad S, Chen CA, Santangelo SL, Seddon JM.
Surv Ophthalmol. 2006 Jul-Aug;51(4):316-63
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16818082

The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration
  • Donoso LA, Kim D, Frost A, Callahan A, Hageman G.
  • Surv Ophthalmol, 2006 Mar-Apr; 51(2):137-52
Complement factor H variant Y402H is a major risk determinant for geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization in smokers and nonsmokers.
  • Sepp T, Khan JC, Thurlby DA, Shahid H, Clayton DG, Moore AT, Bird AC, Yates JR.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2006 Feb;47 (2):536-40
Strong association of the Y402H variant in complement factor H at 1q32 with susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration.
  • Zareparsi S, Branham KE, Li M, Shah S, Klein RJ, Ott J, Hoh J, Abecasis GR, Swaroop A.
  • Am J Hum Genet. 2005 Jul;77(1):149-53. Epub 2005 May 13.
Evidence for an inflammatory process in age-related macular degeneration gains new support
  • Bok D.
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 May 17;102(20):7053-4. Epub 2005 May 10. Comment on: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 May 17;102(20):7227-32.
A common haplotype in the complement regulatory gene factor H (HF1/CFH) predisposes individuals to age-related macular degeneration
  • Hageman GS, Anderson DH, Johnson LV, Hancox LS, Taiber AJ, Hardisty LI, Hageman JL, Stockman HA, Borchardt JD, Gehrs KM, Smith RJ, Silvestri G, Russell SR, Klaver CC, Barbazetto I, Chang S, Yannuzzi LA, Barile GR, Merriam JC, Smith RT, Olsh AK, Bergeron J, Zernant J, Merriam JE, Gold B, Dean M, Allikmets R.
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 May 17;102(20):7227-32. Epub 2005 May 3
Complement factor H polymorphism in age-related macular degeneration.
  • Klein RJ, Zeiss C, Chew EY, Tsai JY, Sackler RS, Haynes C, Henning AK, SanGiovanni JP, Mane SM, Mayne ST, Bracken MB, Ferris FL, Ott J, Barnstable C, Hoh J.
  • Science. 2005 Apr 15;308(5720):385-9. Epub 2005 Mar 10.
Complement factor H variant increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration
  • Haines JL, Hauser MA, Schmidt S, Scott WK, Olson LM, Gallins P, Spencer KL, Kwan SY, Noureddine M, Gilbert JR, Schnetz-Boutaud N, Agarwal A, Postel EA, Pericak-Vance MA.
  • Science. 2005 Apr 15;308(5720):362-4.
Complement factor H polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration
  • Edwards AO, Ritter R 3rd, Abel KJ, Manning A, Panhuysen C, Farrer LA.
  • Science. 2005 Apr 15;308(5720):362-4.
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins): do they have a role in age-related macular degeneration?
  • Guymer RH, Chiu AW, Lim L, Baird PN.
  • Sury Ophthalmol, 2005 Mar-Apr;50(2):194-206.
Molecular composition of drusen as related to substructural phenotype
  • Hageman GS, Mullins RF.
  • Mol Vis. 1999 Nov 3;5:28.