In collaboration with researchers at Stanford University, Vermillion is developing a novel blood test to stratify an individual’s risk of developing PAD, a serious disease estimated to affect up to 12 million Americans.

The test – which has been evaluated in four studies comprising almost 1,000 patients – simultaneously evaluates four specific biomarkers for PAD and creates an index score. Vermillion studies have shown that patients with a high index score are seven times more likely to have PAD than patients with a low index score.

Additionally, in late 2007, Vermillion completed a 540-patient clinical study evaluating the ability of its multi-marker panel to stratify individuals into high and low risk groups for PAD. These results have been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed clinical journal and are expected to be published in the first half of 2008.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) currently affects approximately 12 million Americans; however, only 25 percent are being treated due to inadequate diagnosis. The American College of Cardiology now recommends testing for PAD in diabetics and smokers over the age 50 and everyone over 70 years of age – a combined total of 63.5 million people in the United States alone.

Similar to cardiovascular disease, PAD is caused by the buildup of fat and cholesterol – or plaque – in the peripheral arteries, disrupting normal blood flow. Proper diagnosis is important, since untreated PAD can lead to serious complications including amputation, heart attack, stroke and even death.

For more information, visit www.padcoalition.org/wp/what-is-pad/.