Celera Corp. (NSDQ:CRA) won a patent for a method of detecting a gene associated with increased risk of heart attack.
The Alameda, Calif.-based company said its technology helps determine the possibility of a major cardiovascular event by identifying the "Ile4399Met genetic polymorphism in the protease-like domain" of LPA.
Celera said research shows that individuals with the Ile4399Met variant of the LPA gene have twice as much risk for major cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke. The studies indicated that increased risk of cardiovascular events observed in people with the gene is independent of other common risk factors, such as hypertension or high cholesterol levels.
The genetic technology firm published an analysis of the Women’s Health Study of 25,131 initially healthy participants with researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass., that confirmed the increased disease risk associated with the suspect gene.
Celera said it has patent applications pending relating to the effectiveness of aspirin therapy for carriers of the gene.