Professor Nati Karin and Professor Naim Shehadeh, leading the trial:

• According to the report: Results of the trial performed with more than 200 patients indicate that the novel biomarker * is most efficient in the diagnosis of new juvenile diabetes patients.
• It was found that about 87% of the cohort defined as patients newly diagnosed with juvenile diabetes were identified by the antibody, as compared to an identification rate of about 64% achieved by other biomarkers that are currently available.
• In view of the successful results of the trial, an innovative experimental diagnostic kit will enter the phase of commercial design and production.
• In view of the successful trial results, “Biomarker” is currently planning an additional extensive trial to be initiated at Rambam Medical Center, designed to evaluate the efficiency of the diagnostic kit in the diagnosing adults with autoimmune diabetes. Results of this trial are expected to be obtained during 2008. If this trial is successful, it will lead to the development of an additional unique and clinically significant application, constituting a breakthrough in the field of diagnosing Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).

This morning, Microrap Ltd., a subsidiary of  Micromedic Technologies Ltd. involved in the development of an innovative diagnostic kit in the field of diabetes, reported to the stock market the results of a series of studies it conducted in the field of diagnostics, aimed at early diagnosis of juvenile diabetes. The scientists leading the project, Professor Naim Shehadeh, Head  of the Pediatrics Department  and the Type I / Juvenile Diabetes Center at Rambam, and Professor Nathan Karin, of the Medical School at the Technion, have announced the results of an extensive clinical trial designed to examine the efficiency of a novel biomarker [based on antibodies against the MIPa1 molecule] in identifying patients newly diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.
They said that the results of the trial performed with a large cohort composed of more than 200 patients indicate that there is a high potential/probability that the novel biomarker they developed will be found most efficient, both absolutely and in comparison to other markers commonly used for juvenile diabetes diagnosis and available on the market.
Prof. Shehadeh: “Our new discovery constitutes a most efficient tool for determining the type of diabetes and choosing the most appropriate pharmaceutical treatment for the patients, and it enhances our capacity for early diagnosis and future cure of the disease.”

(* A biomarker is a molecule / gene, which, when present in the body at abnormal levels, indicates development of a disease.)