Prometheus Laboratories Inc has signed a license agreement for intellectual property related to two highly sensitive and specific DNA variations to a gene associated with adult-type hypolactasia (lactose intolerance), with the National Public Health Institute, Finland. The agreement covers any and all applications of this technology, and is exclusive worldwide with the exception of Finland, the Baltic States and Russia where it is non-exclusive. The agreement also includes a continuing research collaboration.
Current diagnostic methods for assessing lactose intolerance, such as the lactose tolerance test and the breath hydrogen tests, generally lack specificity. In addition, the necessity for the patient to ingest lactose itself to perform the current tests highlights the need for a reliable alternative test. A DNA test could be useful in the detection of the presence of or the predisposition to lactose intolerance by testing for the genetic variants in a blood sample.
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the predominant sugar found in milk and other dairy products. This inability results from a shortage of lactase, an enzyme normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Common symptoms include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea. For most people, lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally over time. Between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. Currently, no treatment exists to improve the body's ability to produce lactase, but symptoms can be controlled through diet and lactase enzyme supplements.