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.

Complement Factor H (CFH) and Association with Other Diseases

Soluble and mature amyloid fibrils in drusen deposits.
  • Isas JM, Luibl V, Johnson LV, Kayed R, Wetzel R, Glabe CG, Langen R, Chen J.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Mar;51(3):1304-10. Epub 2009 Nov 5.
Complement factor H is expressed in adipose tissue in association with insulin resistance
  • Moreno-Navarrete JM, Martínez-Barricarte R, Catalán V, Sabater M, Gómez-Ambrosi J, Ortega FJ, Ricart W, Blüher M, Frühbeck G, Rodríguez de Cordoba S, Fernández-Real JM.
  • Diabetes. 2010 Jan;59(1):200-9. Epub 2009 Oct 15.
Characterization of an NF-kappaB-regulated, miRNA-146a-mediated down-regulation of complement factor H (CFH) in metal-sulfate-stressed human brain cells.
  • Pogue AI, Li YY, Cui JG, Zhao Y, Kruck TP, Percy ME, Tarr MA, Lukiw WJ.
  • J Inorg Biochem. 2009 Nov;103(11):1591-5. Epub 2009 May 24
AddNeuroMed--the European collaboration for the discovery of novel biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
  • Lovestone S, Francis P, Kloszewska I, Mecocci P, Simmons A, Soininen H, Spenger C, Tsolaki M, Vellas B, Wahlund LO, Ward M; AddNeuroMed Consortium.
  • Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Oct;1180:36-46.
Complement in human diseases: Lessons from complement deficiencies.
  • Botto M, Kirschfink M, Macor P, Pickering MC, Würzner R, Tedesco F.
  • Mol Immunol. 2009 Sep;46(14):2774-83. Epub 2009 May 28.
Elevated plasma levels of C3a complement compound in the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration.
  • Machalińska A, Dziedziejko V, Mozolewska-Piotrowska K, Karczewicz D, Wiszniewska B, Machaliński B.
  • Ophthalmic Res. 2009;42(1):54-9. Epub 2009 May 28
Renal disease associated with inherited disorders of the complement system.
  • Welch TR, Blystone LW.
  • Pediatr Nephrol. 2009 Aug;24(8):1439-44
Association of diabetes with age-related macular degeneration in the EUREYE study.
  • Topouzis F, Anastasopoulos E, Augood C, Bentham GC, Chakravarthy U, de Jong PT, Rahu M, Seland J, Soubrane G, Tomazzoli L, Vingerling JR, Vioque J, Young IS, Fletcher AE.
  • Br J Ophthalmol. 2009 Aug;93(8):1037-41
Complement factor H gene polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease patients.
  • Buraczynska M, Ksiazek P, Zukowski P, Benedyk-Lorens E, Orlowska-Kowalik G.
  • Clin Immunol. 2009 Aug;132(2):285-90. Epub 2009 May 9.
The spectrum of phenotypes caused by variants in the CFH gene
  • Boon CJ, van de Kar NC, Klevering BJ, Keunen JE, Cremers FP, Klaver CC, Hoyng CB, Daha MR, den Hollander AI.
  • Mol Immunol. 2009 May;46(8-9):1573-94
Complement factor H, a marker of self protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
  • Griffiths MR, Neal JW, Fontaine M, Das T, Gasque P.
  • J Immunol. 2009 Apr 1;182(7):4368-77.
The role of complement activation, detected by urinary C5b-9 and urinary factor H, in the excretion of urinary albumin in cisplatin nephropathy.
  • Fuke Y, Fujita T, Satomura A, Endo M, Matsumoto K.
  • Clin Nephrol. 2009 Feb;71(2):110-7
Genetics of C-reactive protein and complement factor H have an epistatic effect on carotid artery compliance: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
  • Jylhava J, Eklund C, Pessi T, Raitakari OT, Juonala M, Kahonen M, Viikari JS, Lehtimaki T, Hurme M.
  • Clin Exp Immunol. 2009 Jan:115(1):53-8.
Complement Factor H Y402H decreases cardiovascular disease risk in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia.
  • Koeijvoets KC, Mooijaart SP, Dallinga-Thie GM, Defesche JC, Steyerberg EW, Westendorp RG, Kastelein JJ, Martin van Hagen P, Sijbrands EJ.
  • Eur Heart J. 2008 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Factor H, membran cofactor protein, and factor I mutations in patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome.
  • Fakhouri F, Jablonski M, Lepercq J, Blouin J, Benachi A, Hourmant M, Pirson Y, Durrbach A, Grunfeld JP, Knebelmann B, Fremeaux-Bacchi V.
  • Blood. 2008 Dec 1;112(12):4542-5. Epub 2008 Jul 24
Complement factor H related proteins in immune diseases
  • Skerka C, Zipfel PF.
  • Vaccine. 2008 Dec 30;26 Suppl 8:I9-14
Cataract surgery and the risk of aging macula disorder : the rotterdam study.
  • Ho L. Boekhoorn SS, Liana, van Duijn CM, Uitterlinden AG, Hofman A, de Jong PT, Stijnen T, Vingerling JR.
  • Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2008 Nov; 49(11):4795-800, Epub 2008 Jul 3.
Age-related macular degeneration and complement activation-related diseases: a population-based case-control study.
  • Nitsch D, Douglas I, Smeeth L, Fletcher A.
  • Ophthalmology. 2008 Nov;115(11):1904-10. Epub 2008 Sep 18.
Complement factor H 402His variant confers an increased mortality risk in Finnish nonagenarians: The Vitality 90+ study.
  • Jylhava J, Eklund C, Jylha M, Hervonen A, Lehtimaki T, Karhunen P, Hurme M.
  • Exp Gerontol, 2008 Oct 26. [Epub ahead of print]
Association of complement factor H Y402H gene polymorphism with Alzehimer’s disease.
  • Zetterberg M, Landgren S, Andersson ME, Palmer MS, Gustafson DR, Skoog I, Minthon L, Thelle DS, Wallin A, Bogdanovic N, Andreasen N, Blennow K, Zetterberg H.
  • Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2008 Sep 5;147B(6):720-6.
The discovery and early validation of novel plasma biomarkers in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease patients responding to treatment with rosiglitazone.
  • Akuffo EL, Davis JB, Fox SM, Gloger IS, Hosford D, Kinsey EE, Jones NA, Nock CM, Roses AD, Saunders Am, Skehel JM, Smith MA, Cutler P.
  • Biomarkers.2008 Sep; 13(6):618-36
An NF-kB –sensitive microRNA-146a-mediated inflammatory circuit in Alzheimer’s disease and in stressed human brain cells.
  • Lukiw WJ, Zhao Y, Cui JG.
  • J. Biol Chem. 2008 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print]
Complement factor H Y402H polymorphism, plasma concentration and risk of coronary artery disease.
  • Qian Q, Chen Z, Ma G, Jiang Y, Feng Y, Shen C, Yao Y, Ding J, Dai Q, Li Y.
  • Mol Biol Rep. 2008 July 6. [Epub ahead of print]
Association of the complement factor H Y402H polymorphism with cardiovascular disease is dependent upon hypertension status: The ARIC study.
  • Volcik KA, Ballantyne CM, Braun MC, Coresh J, Mosley TH, Boerwinkle E.
  • Am J Hypertens, 2008 May;21(5):533-8. Epub 2008 Feb 21
The possible role of factor H in colon cancer resistance to complement attack.
  • Wilczek E, Rzepko R, Nowis D, Legat M, Golab J, Glab M, Gorlewicz A, Konopacki F, Mazurkiewicz M, Sladowski D, Gornicka B, Wasiutynski A, Wilczynski GM.
  • Int J Cancer. 2008 May 1;122(9):2030-7.
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
Translational mini-review series on complement factor H: renal diseases associated with complement factor H: novel insights from humans and animals.
  • Pickering MC, Cook HT.
  • Clin Exp Immunol. 2008 Feb:151(2):210-30.
Translational mini-review series on complement factor H: genetics and disease associations of human complement factor H.
  • de Cordoba SR, de Jorge EG
  • Clin Exp Immunol, 2008 Jan;151(1):1-13
Association of complement factor H Y402H gene polymorphism with Alzheimer's disease
  • Zetterberg M, Landgren S, Andersson ME, Palmér MS, Gustafson DR, Skoog I, Minthon L, Thelle DS, Wallin A, Bogdanovic N, Andreasen N, Blennow K, Zetterberg H.
  • Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2007 Dec 28
Complement Factor H polymorphism Y402H associates with inflammation, visual acuity, and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly population at large.
  • Mooijaart SP, Koeijvoets KM, Sijbrands EJ, Daha MR, Westendorp RG.
  • Exp Gerontol. 2007 Nov;42(11):1116-22. Epub 2007 Aug 10.
Usefulness of combining complement factor H and C-reactive protein genetic profiles for predicting myocardial infarction (from the Rotterdam Study)
  • Kardys I, de Maat MP, Klaver CC, Despriet DD, Uitterlinden AG, Hofman A, de Jong PT, Witteman JC.
  • Am J Cardiol. 2007 Aug 15;100(4):646-8. Epub 2007 Jun 26.
Relationship between age-related macular degeneration-associated variants of complement factor H and LOC387715 with coronary artery disease.
  • Pulido JS, McConnell JP, Lennon RJ, Bryant SC, Peterson LM, Berger PB, Somers V, Highsmith WE.
  • Mayo Clin Proc. 2007 Mar;82(3):301-7.
Cataract surgery and the 10-year incidence of age-related maculopathy: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
  • Cugati S, Mitchell P, Rochtchina E, Tan AG, Smith W, Wang JJ.
  • Ophthalmology, 2006 Nov; 113(11):2020-5. Epub 2006 Aug 28.
Age-related macular degeneration and risk for stroke
  • Wong TY, Klein R, Sun C, Mitchell P, Couper DJ, Lai H, Hubbard LD, Sharrett AR; Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.
  • Ann Intern Med. 2006 Jul 18;145(2):98-106.
A common polymorphism in the complement factor H gene is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction: the Rotterdam Study
  • Kardys I, Klaver CC, Despriet DD, Bergen AA, Uitterlinden AG, Hofman A, Oostra BA, Van Duijn CM, de Jong PT, Witteman JC.
  • J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Apr 18;47(8):1568-75. Epub 2006 Mar 29.
The central role of the alternative complement pathway in human disease.
  • Thurman JM, Holers VM.
  • J Immunol. 2006 Feb 1;176(3):1305-10. Review
Expression of complement factor H by lung cancer cells: effects on the activation of the alternative pathway of complement.
  • Ajona D, Castaño Z, Garayoa M, Zudaire E, Pajares MJ, Martinez A, Cuttitta F, Montuenga LM, Pio R.
  • Cancer Res. 2004 Sep 1;64(17):6310-8.
Factor H deficiency and fibrillary glomerulopathy.
  • Bircan Z, Toprak D, Kilicasian I, Solakoglu S, Uysal V, Ponard D, Turker G.
  • Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2004 Mar;19(3):727-30
The association of cataract and cataract surgery with the long-term incidence of age-related maculopathy: the Beaver Dam eye study.
  • Klein R, Klein BE, Wong TY, Tomany SC, Cruickshanks KJ
  • Arch Ophthalmol, 2002 Nov; 120(11):1551-8
Complement factor H gene mutation associated with autosomal recessive atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.
  • Ying L, Katz Y, Schlesinger M, Carmi R, Shalev H. Haider N, Beck G, Sheffield VC, Landau D.
  • Am J Hum Genet. 1999 Dec;65(6):1538-46.
Heterozygous and homozygous factor H deficiency states in a Dutch family.
  • Fijen CA, Kuijper EJ, Te Bulte M, van de Heuvel MM, Holdrinet AC, Sim RB, Daha MR, Dankert J.
  • Clin Exp Immunol. 1996 Sep;105(3):511-6
Inherited factor H deficiency and collagen type III glomerulopathy.
  • Vogt BA, Wyatt RJ, Burke BA, Simonton SC, Kashtan CE.
  • Pediatr Nephrol. 1995 Feb;9(1):11-5.
Hereditary, complete deficiency of complement factor H associated with recurrent meningococcal disease.
  • Nielsen HE, Christensen KC, Koch C, Thomsen BS, Heegaard NH, Tranum-Jensen J.
  • Scand J Immunol. 1989 Dec;30(6):711-8.
Combined homozygous factor H and heterozygous C2 deficiency in an Italian family.
  • Brai M, Misiano G, Maringhini S, Cutaja I, Hauptmann G.
  • J Clin Immunol. 1988 Jan;8(1):50-6.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: deficiency in factor H-like functions of the abnormal erythrocytes
  • Pangburn MK, Schreiber RD, Trombold JS, Müller-Eberhard HJ.
  • J Exp Med. 1983 Jun 1;157(6):1971-80
Hypocomplementaemia due to a genetic deficiency of beta 1H globulin.
  • Thompson RA, Winterborn MH.
  • Clin Exp Immunol. 1981 Oct;46(1):110-9.