IRA to offer Personal Genetic Health and Ancestry Testing to residents of Latin America

Pathway Genomics™ (www.PATHWAY.com), a privately held, venture-backed company today announced that the Instituto de Referencia Andino (IRA), a Clinical Laboratory and Division of Rochem Biocare will offer Personal Genetic Health and Ancestry Testing to residents of Latin America. IRA is a high-complexity laboratory located in Bogota, Colombia with 200 affiliate laboratories in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. As a leader in Latin America’s clinical space, IRA sought to partner with Pathway Genomics because of the growing public interest in understanding genetic causes for disease.

“By providing access to residents of Latin America we can expand our services into new communities, helping more people learn about the benefits of personal genetic testing.”

“This is a major step forward in the way we think about and manage health and wellness in Latin America,” said Santiago Padilla, M.D., FCAP. “For the first time, we are providing our community with an easy and affordable way to learn about their risk for developing a health condition they never suspected. With the genetic health and ancestry reports developed by Pathway Genomics, customers can share this information with their physicians to monitor their health and lifestyle, and reduce their risk of developing these conditions.”

In addition to a genetic testing agreement, researchers from IRA are collaborating with Pathway Genomics to identify genetic markers linked to common health conditions in Latin and Hispanic populations. These markers will be used to further tailor Pathway Genomics’ already, custom-designed comprehensive DNA genotyping technology, enabling Pathway Genomics to offer genetic testing to the broader Latin American populations.

“We are excited to partner with IRA because they share in our vision to offer easy and affordable genetic testing to consumers,” said Jim Woodman, Vice President of Business Development at Pathway Genomics. “By providing access to residents of Latin America we can expand our services into new communities, helping more people learn about the benefits of personal genetic testing.”

People in Colombia, Ecuador, or Peru interested in ordering a personal health or ancestry genetic report can contact any one of IRA’s affiliate clinics in those countries. The following web site, www.iralabs.com provides specific locations and contact information.