Sequenom’s GR lab to process test
By Elizabeth Slowik

Sequenom Inc  announced Tuesday that its Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine in Grand Rapids will use intellectual property licensed from Optherion Inc. to develop and commercialize a test for genetic predisposition to late stage age-related macular degeneration.

The test is expected to be marketed under Sequenom’s SensiGene trademarked brand name in early 2011, according to a press release. It will be processed at the laboratory in Grand Rapids.

Within the past five years, researchers from several U.S. universities have determined that about 75 percent of the risk for AMD is inherited. The non-invasive test would identify those with genetic variations that predispose them for AMD. The disease affects 15 million to 20 million Americans and has caused blindness in 2 million adults. More treatments are available when AMD is caught early.