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For immediate Release
August 19, 2004
New Park tenant tests cause of obesity
Richmond, Va. – The Virginia BioTechnology Research Park recently announced that Obetech, LLC, a bioscience company focused on obesity research, has become its newest tenant, joining more than 45 life sciences companies and research institutions.
Obetech, LLC is researching adenovirus-36 (Ad-36), a common human virus that has been found to cause obesity in several types of animals. Interestingly, studies have shown that exposure to Ad-36 also may cause obesity in humans. When infected by the virus, humans produce specific antibodies to help them fight off the infection. People with Ad-36 antibodies in their bloodstreams have been found to be heavier than those without antibodies, suggesting that Ad-36 may be the cause of obesity in some people.
“Obesity is a complex disease, and I believe there are many factors that contribute to the dramatic increase we have seen in the United States since 1980, one of which is viral infection,” said Dr. Richard Atkinson, president and founder of Obetech, LLC.
Seeing the proliferation of obesity in the United States and understanding the implications of these findings, Obetech has developed a way to test individuals for exposure to the Ad-36 virus. This “obesity virus test” screens for Ad-36 antibodies in the blood and allows people to understand if the virus may be contributing to their difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.
“The test we have developed is not only for those who are already obese,” said Atkinson. “It is important for people to know if they are at risk of developing obesity since prevention is much easier than treatment. Just as high cholesterol levels are an indication of future heart problems, the assay for Ad-36 can alert people if they are at risk for developing obesity.”
Atkinson already is widely known and highly regarded in the field of obesity research. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Military Institute and his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He is currently the president and co-founder of the American Obesity Association, and is past president of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity and the American Society for Clinical Nutrition. Atkinson also served as chair of the Nutrition Study Section for the National Institutes of Health and the Committee on Military Weight Management for the National Academy of Sciences.
The Obetech research center is scheduled to be fully functional in mid-September, at which time the cost of the test will be between $125 and $150. Individuals may order the test on the Obetech Web site (http://www.obesityvirus.com).
“Obetech is working on the cutting edge of obesity science and already has received a great deal of attention from the public,” said Robert T. Skunda, president and CEO of the BioTech Park. “This is yet another great representation of the innovation coming out of the Park, and a growing bioscience industry in the Greater Richmond area.”
The Virginia BioTechnology Research Park is home to a unique mix of biosciences companies, research institutes affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University, major state and national medical laboratories, and nonprofit organizations. The BioTech Park is only one-third developed, yet already its tenants, housed in eight buildings, fill more than 575,000 square feet of space in downtown Richmond and employ more than 1,350 scientists, researchers, engineers and technicians in fields that include drug development, medical diagnostics, biomedical engineering, forensics and environmental analysis. Recent partnerships with neighboring Henrico and Chesterfield counties will extend the reach of the Park to satellite parks that can accommodate larger companies on suburban campuses.
Contact:
Nicky Colomb
Virginia BioTechnology Research Park
Phone: (804) 828-6884
E-mail: ncolomb@vabiotech.com
Web site: http://www.vabiotech.com
Richard L. Atkinson, President
Obetech, LLC
Phone: (804) 344-5360
E-mail: Obesityvirus@obetech.net
Web site: http://www.obesityvirus.com
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