News | W Squared

August 19, 2008

Nashville, TN - OralDNA Labs, Inc., a specialty diagnostics company focused on advancing existing and future laboratory diagnostic capabilities as they are applied within oral medicine, today announced its launch. Brian C. Carr, a veteran of the clinical laboratory industry, will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer, while Dr. Thomas Nabors will serve as Chairman and Chief Dental Officer.

Initially, OralDNA will provide science-based diagnostic and prognostic lab tests and data targeting periodontal disease to the dental community through a specialized sales force along with frequent speaking engagements from Dr. Nabors and other periodontal disease experts. Company leaders anticipate that OralDNA will eventually provide a broad suite of molecular, genetic and other clinical tests to assist dental professionals in the screening, evaluation and treatment of other disease states. Periodontal disease is present in an estimated three quarters of the adult population in the United States. If left untreated, this bacterial infection can lead to serious gum disease and tooth loss, and research now suggests a link to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. With more than 150,000 dentists and over 150,000 dental hygienists providing services within the United States, OralDNA has identified a large and underserved market.

"Under current practices dentist largely rely on visual and probing tools for the diagnosis of this disease, thus creating a situation where we not only are under diagnosing but also under-treating the disease," said Dr. Nabors. "When a bacterial infection is present, it is important to understand the specific bacteria causing the disease progression so that a care provider can responsibly treat the patient. We now have the ability to utilize molecular diagnostics in dentistry just like our peers in the physician community use it to diagnose disorders such as Hepatitis, HIV and many other diseases."

OralDNA’s two tests create a systematic way to track and maximize clinical outcomes. They take the guesswork out of diagnosing and treating gingivitis and periodontitis, and the result is often a more productive and pro-active perio department within dental practices.

"We are excited to help lead the application of molecular and clinical laboratory testing to the forefront of dentistry," said Chief Executive Officer Brian C. Carr. "A disease that affects such a large portion of our population should be considered a high priority for aggressive intervention. OralDNA has the ability to help support advances by the dental community and, by implementing personalized medicine, create a more informed patient. Additionally, OralDNA is currently working to expand its test menu to support the dental community’s need for more laboratory based diagnostic data."

Oak Investment Partners led an investment consortium that joined with management in capitalizing OralDNA. Oak Investment Partners is expected to play an important role as the Company identifies potential acquisitions and seeks additional resources to scale the organization.

W Squared provides retained technology leadership, technology support, accounting systems and payroll services to OralDNA Labs.