CardioDx, Inc., a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular genomic diagnostics, has entered into an agreement granting to Core Diagnostics India the exclusive right to market and sell CardioDx's Corus CAD diagnostic test in India. Corus CAD is a noninvasive blood-based gene expression test for the assessment of patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Corus CAD requires just a simple blood draw to conveniently, safely, and reliably help clinicians evaluate the presence of obstructive CAD in stable non-diabetic patients early in the diagnostic pathway. Corus CAD has the potential to reduce patients' exposure to unnecessary invasive and noninvasive procedures.

Under the agreement, Core Diagnostics will make Corus CAD available to patients in India, which has one of the highest rates of CAD in the world and where over US$ 15 billion is spent annually on out-of-pocket health care expenses. Blood samples collected from patients in India for Corus CAD testing will be sent overnight to CardioDx's CLIA-certified laboratory in Palo Alto, California for rapid analysis and turnaround.

"We are very excited about our agreement with Core Diagnostics that will expand the reach of Corus CAD to India and provide those patients with a safe and reliable alternative to traditional imaging and invasive testing methods, which may expose patients to radiation, imaging agent intolerance and other procedure-related risks and complications," said David Levison, president and chief executive officer of CardioDx. "Core Diagnostics is an innovative leader at the forefront of advanced diagnostic testing in India and an ideal marketing partner for CardioDx."

Gurgaon-based Core Diagnostics India offers a comprehensive menu of specialized, advanced diagnostic testing in India in the areas of cardiology, oncology, reproductive disorders, endocrinology and infectious diseases.

"Molecular, genomic and proteomic based diagnostics will play a crucial role in disease stratification, and in objectively selecting the best treatment path," said Gurpreet Singh Wander, MD, DM, Professor and Chief Cardiologist of Hero DMC Heart Institute, Ludhiana. "CadCORE, based on the Corus CAD test, marks a significant step in that direction."

Core Diagnostics India is working with physicians from prominent medical centres in the US to collaborate with their Indian colleagues. The company deploys next generation sequencing in clinical applications and uses digital pathology for enabling concurrent global review of test results.

"Coronary artery disease is a rising epidemic in India and about 62 million of the country's population is estimated to suffer from CAD by 2015," said Mohan Uttarwar, CEO of Core Diagnostics. "CardioDx's state-of-the-art Corus CAD gene expression diagnostic test will help us spearhead the personalized medicine movement in India and provide diagnostic technology that is more convenient than current diagnostic tests for CAD. Corus CAD helps physicians accurately and easily determine early in the assessment process whether their patients' symptoms are due to obstructive CAD. This test will help meet the needs of a new generation of patients in India who insist on individualized, best-in-class medical care."

Core Diagnostics is backed by Palo Alto, California-based Artiman Ventures. Artiman Ventures is also an investor in CardioDx.

CardioDx, Inc. is committed to developing clinically validated tests that empower clinicians to better tailor care to each individual patient.

Core Diagnostics is a clinical laboratory focused on next generation diagnostics for disease stratification and therapy selection. The company focuses on bringing the most advanced testing techniques and expertise to India.