FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

VitaPath Genetics, Inc., a privately held company leading the exploration of the Vitanome, the subset of information that lies within our genomes that plays a critical role in how we metabolize vitamins, today announced healthcare industry veteran Catherine Burzik has been appointed Chair of its Board of Directors.

Ms. Burzik is a seasoned senior executive in the healthcare industry who has led major medical device, diagnostic, diagnostic imaging and life sciences businesses. Most recently, she served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Kinetic Concepts, Inc., a leading medical device company specializing in the fields of wound care and regenerative medicine. Previously, she was President of Applied Biosystems and held senior executive positions at Eastman Kodak and Johnson & Johnson. Ms. Burzik is currently Chair of the San Antonio Branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve Board; Chair of the Canisius College Board of Trustees; and member of the Board of Directors of InHealth and the Board of Trustees of Keck Graduate School of Applied Life Sciences. She founded and chairs the Catherine M. and Francis N. Burzik Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on bolstering science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs in higher education.

I am honored to be named Chair of the VitaPath Board of Directors, said Ms. Burzik. One of the many great outcomes from the Human Genome Project has been the increased understanding of the complexity of individual genetic variation. VitaPaths goal is to identify how genetic variations in vitamin-responsive genes can lead to specific diseases and, importantly, how the effect of these variations can be mitigated through vitamin therapy. I look forward to working with the company to realize its full potential.

Dennis Gilbert, Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of VitaPath commented: For 60 years, the recommended daily allowance of vitamins has remained essentially unchanged and homogenous across the population. Our research has shown that individual genetic differences can play a large and medically important role in many common conditions. The VitaPath approach has broad applicability across several hundred genes involved in vitamin metabolism that have been implicated in dozens of diseases. These conditions may be remediated with vitamin therapy, provided that the at-risk individuals can be identified through simple genetic tests.

Cathys deep experience and strategic vision will be a tremendous asset to us as we seek to develop our platform that can suggest vitamin-based therapeutic interventions based on an individuals genetic profile, added Dr. Gilbert.

The first test developed on VitaPaths platform identifies women at highest risk of having children with spina bifida which may be prevented by using prescription-dose folic acid before pregnancy. The test is expected to be offered in doctors offices in 2013.

For more information about VitaPath Genetics, please visit http://www.vpgenetics.com.

About VitaPath Genetics

VitaPath Genetics, Inc. has developed a platform for genomic-based tests that determine an individuals need for vitamin therapy in medically actionable conditions. Using its platform, VitaPath develops specific assays that test for the risk of vitamin-remediable diseases and that can help manage the use of $30 billion of supplements purchased in the U.S. each year. The first test developed by VitaPath measures genetic risk factors associated with spina bifida to identify women who would benefit from prescription-strength folic acid supplementation. VitaPath is privately held and has received investment from Mohr Davidow Ventures, X/Seed Capital Management and Alere Inc. The company is based in Foster City, California.

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Catherine Burzik Appointed Chair of VitaPath Genetics Board of Directors

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