Re: Progressive Adolescent Scoliosis - Hoping Infantile is Next!

[Guest guest]

Here it is...

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> Hello,

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> I saved this post (below) that I sent last year to remind me to look for an

update on this test in 2009.

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> I just checked this morning and per the company's website it is available now.

I've attached the links below (the 2nd link is the FAQ regarding Infantile.) I

know this doesn't help any of our kiddos here with Infantile, but it's still

interesting and gives me hope that they'll soon develp something similar for our

kiddos. Wouldn't it be great?! Our kids could have a simple cotton swab done

right at diagnosis to determine whether or not their curves will progress. This

would virtually end the " wait and see " approach and many children would never

miss their " window " for Early Treatment! Exciting Stuff!!!

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> http://www.axialbiotech.com/products/learn/scoliosis_test

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> http://www.axialbiotech.com/patients/learn/faq

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> ~

> Noah 4 years old

> 9 months of casting in SLC; Currently on 1 1/2 years of bracing

> And Mariella 8 months old currently waiting and watching at 11*

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> infantile scoliosis treatment

> From: christina_borlik@...

> Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:39:59 +0000

> Subject: Genetic Testing For Adolescent Scoliosis

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> I thought this was interesting and thought others might think so as well...

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> SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Axial Biotech, Inc. announced

> today the commercial launch of a new DNA-based test that indicates the

> likelihood of progression to a severe curve for children diagnosed with

> Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). This new molecular diagnostic

> tool marks a major advancement in which medical treatments can be

> personalized to patients diagnosed with this deforming disease. The test

> will be marketed under the name of ScoliScore AIS Prognostic Test.

>

> Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that affects two to

> three percent of the population, or an estimated 7 million people in the

> United States. Most often scoliosis is identified during school or sport

> screenings. Girls are eight times more likely than boys to have a curve

> progress to a point that treatment is required.

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> Currently, to determine whether or not a curve will progress patients

> are observed over a period of several years with the uncertainty of not

> knowing what the long-term outcome is likely to be. If the curve does

> continue to progress, the most widely accepted treatments are spinal

> bracing or ultimately spinal fusion surgery.

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> " For decades, spine surgeons have been looking for ways to determine

> which patients may progress and which may not, " stated Ken Ward, M.D.,

> Chief Scientific Officer for Axial Biotech. " Currently, most patients

> diagnosed with scoliosis have spinal x-rays repeated over several years

> because of the lack of precise clinical indicators or markers that can

> identify the likelihood of severe curve progression. This lack of

> predictive information is very inefficient and can cause adolescents to

> be given years of unnecessary radiation exposure. "

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> ScoliScore was developed by utilizing a genome wide association

> study that identified a panel of 53 genetic markers associated with

> severe curve progression. This scoliosis research involved collecting

> DNA samples from over 9,500 patients from 85 clinical sites throughout

> the world. The test was then further validated in two separate clinical

> trials.

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> Climaco, CEO and President of Axial Biotech, said that the launch

> of ScoliScore illustrates the company's commitment to making

> critical information from molecular diagnostic tests more broadly

> available to spinal surgeons, patients, and their family members. " Our

> long-term vision is to utilize the knowledge and capabilities gained

> from the development of this test and apply it to other spinal

> diseases, " said Mr. Climaco.

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> The initial launch of the ScoliScore test will be to a small group

> of physicians in the U.S. The test will be processed solely at Axial's

> CLIA certified laboratory, which meets all applicable state and federal

> guidelines. It will be made commercially available to physicians

> nationwide in 2009. Axial Biotech has signed an agreement with DePuy

> Spine, Inc. to sell and market ScoliScore.

>

> For more information on the ScoliScore test, please contact Axial

> Biotech Customer Service at 877-AXIAL98 (877-294-2598) or visit the

> company's website at www.axialbiotech.com <http://www.axialbiotech.com/>

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