Jim Rogers interviews Kári Stefánsson, M.D., Dr.Med. President of deCODE Gene Mapping Company

Jim Rogers is an economic expert and author who traveled to over 150 countries

Copyright Jim Rogers – provided as a special contribution to The Fenton Report

Kári Stefánsson, M.D., Dr. Med. has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director since he co-founded deCODE in August 1996. Dr. Stefánsson was appointed to serve as the Chairman of our Board of Directors in December 1999. From 1993 until April 1997, Dr. Stefánsson was a professor of Neurology, Neuropathology and Neuroscience at Harvard University. In addition, from 1993 through December 1996 he was Director of Neuropathology at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. From 1983 to 1993, he held faculty positions in Neurology, Neuropathology and Neurosciences at the University of Chicago. Dr. Stefánsson received his M.D. and Dr. Med. from the University of Iceland and is board-certified in neurology and neuropathology in the United States.

About deCODE genetics

Headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, deCODE is a biopharmaceutical company applying its discoveries in human genetics to the development of drugs and diagnostics for common diseases. deCODE is a global leader in gene discovery – our population approach and resources have enabled us to isolate key genes contributing to major public health challenges from cardiovascular disease to cancer, genes that are providing us with drug targets rooted in the basic biology of disease.

The company currently has seven lead programs in drug discovery and development, including three in clinical development, and is broadening its pipeline through gene and target discovery work in 50 of the most common diseases. Through its CLIA-registered DNA testing laboratory, deCODE offers deCODE T2™, a novel DNA-based reference laboratory test for the first common and well-validated genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes, deCODE AF™, whichdetects versions of two SNPs that the company has linked to risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and deCODE MI™ which detects a genetic or an inherited risk of MI. The company is also developing tests for genetic variants conferring risk of several other common diseases.

deCODE is also leveraging its expertise in human genetics and integrated drug discovery and development capabilities to offer innovative products and services in DNA-based diagnostics, bioinformatics, genotyping, structural biology, drug discovery and clinical development.

deCODE, a global leader in gene discovery, is bringing to market a growing number of reference laboratory tests for genetic variants the company has linked to increased risk of developing common diseases. deCODE believes that such tests provide a novel means of better understanding individual risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, heart attack and certain cancers.

deCODE currently offers deCODE T2™, which detects a single letter variation in the genome, or SNP, that deCODE has linked to increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D); deCODE AF™ , which detects versions of two SNPs that the company has linked to risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), a common cardiac arrhythmia that is a major risk factor for and cause of stroke; deCODE MI™, a test for increased risk for myocardial infarction (MI or heart attack), especially MI occurring at an early age, or before the age of 50 for men and 60 for women; deCODE Glaucoma™ detects SNP in the sequence of the LOXL1 gene that deCODE has linked to increased risk of one of the more common types of glaucoma, exfoliation type glaucoma; deCODE ProstateCancer™, which interrogates eight SNPs linked with prostate cancer risk and deCODE BreastCancer™ for assessing individual risk of the common forms of breast cancer.