Global Genomics Group, Metabolon partner to discover novel targets for cardiovascular diseases

Global Genomics Group (G3) and Metabolon today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to investigate biological networks and pathways in order to discover novel biomarkers and pharmaceutical targets for cardiovascular diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Metabolon will analyze the biochemicals for the GLOBAL (Genetic LOci and Burden of Atherosclerotic Lesions) study. GLOBAL is the largest pan-omic study combining genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and lipoprotein proteomics with coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography, an advanced imaging technology for phenotyping, which allows the precise disease classification in patients.

"Metabolon will employ its metabolomics platform and targeted assays to provide the most comprehensive assessment of the metabolism to complement the other 'omic' approaches used in this study," said Szilard Voros, M.D., chief executive officer and co-founder of G3. "We expect to analyze 22 trillion data points from the CT phenotyping and the complete pan-omic analysis to decode the complex biology underlying atherosclerotic disease to identify new drug targets and biomarkers. The study will enroll 7,500 patients in Phase I, may be extended to 10,000 patients in Phase II and has already enrolled over 3,000 patients and is well ahead of schedule."

Metabolon will utilize its TrueVision™ metabolomics offering, comprised of analytical chemistry (utilizing mass-spectroscopy), informatics and biological expertise, to measure and interpret the concentrations of relevant biochemicals and metabolites. Metabolomics can provide a complete picture of metabolism, including complex lipid metabolism, which is thought to play an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Metabolon's platform has lead to major advancements in disease research and biomarker discovery and is capable of surveying biological samples for over 4000 known metabolites contained in its chemical library.

John Ryals, president and CEO of Metabolon, Inc., added, "We are happy to participate in such an important study. We anticipate the results to be highly impactful."

The ongoing GLOBAL study (ClincialTrials.gov Identifier NCT01738828) is an international, prospective, multi-center study recruiting up to 10,000 patients to characterize novel disease networks and biomarkers for coronary artery disease (CAD). The study is being funded by G3 and conducted together with strategic partner, Health Diagnostic Laboratory. Eligible patients undergo coronary CT angiography providing an accurate and detailed examination of the disease and disease status. This precision phenotyping is combined with a pan-omic analysis, and the data is then analyzed utilizing specifically-developed systems biology-based bioinformatics technology for identification of diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.