DIAGNOS Announces Contract With a Leading Ophthalmology Pharmaceutical Company in the USA


BROSSARD, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - March 10, 2015) - DIAGNOS Inc. ("DIAGNOS" or "the Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:ADK), leader in diabetic retinopathy screening, is announcing the close of a commercial agreement to provide retina screening services to patients in the United States. The sponsor of the services is a major U.S.-based pharmaceutical company that markets a leading ophthalmology product indicated for a variety of ophthalmic complications including those associated with diabetes.

"This second Pharmaceutical contract provides additional validation of the clinical relevance and continuing market uptake of CARA, our proprietary diabetic retinopathy screening platform, to screen patients experiencing or at risk of vision complications, in order to address preventable clinical outcomes including blindness," said Andre Larente, President of DIAGNOS. "Together with our other partners such as leading pharmaceutical companies, governments, nursing homes, and corporations, DIAGNOS is improving the quality of life of patients and minimizing the economic burden of vision problems around the world. We expect to continue putting into place additional nonexclusive agreements in the Unites States and in many other countries."

There are millions of diabetic and pre-diabetic patients in the United States who do not routinely have their eyes screened for vision problems associated with diabetes1. Diabetic retinopathy screening can make a major contribution towards improving their quality of life by identifying patients with unknown eye disorders and referring them for appropriate medical follow up2.

As part of its mission to improve outcomes for patients, DIAGNOS' client supports various high-impact health organizations and initiatives in the United States. The deployment of CARA is intended to slow or reverse vision impairment in the U.S. diabetic patient population.

1 Owsley, Cynthia, Gerald McGwin, Jr., David J. Lee, and Byron L. Lam. "Diabetes Eye Screening in Urban Settings Serving Minority Populations Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Ocular Findings Using Telemedicine." JAMA Ophthalmology 133.2 (2015): 174-81.

2 Schwartz, Shulamit, Mariana Harasawa, Valeria Baldivieso, and Allison L. Sabel. "Nonmydriatic Fundus Camera for Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in a Safety Net Hospital: Effectiveness, Prevalence, and Risk Factors." European Journal of Ophthalmology 25.2 (2015): 145-52.

About DIAGNOS

DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation with a mission to improve the quality of patients lives and minimize the economic burden of vision loss. CARA is the Company's proprietary tele-ophthalmology platform that integrates with existing equipment (hardware and software) and processes at the point of care (POC) and comprises: image upload, image enhancement automated pre-screening, grading by a specialist, and referral to a specialist. CARA's image enhancement algorithms make standard retinal images sharper, clearer, and easier to read. CARA is accessible securely over the internet, and is compatible with all recognized image formats and brands of fundus cameras, and is EMR compatible. CARA is a cost-effective tool for screening large numbers of patients, in real-time and has been approved by regulatory authorities including Health Canada, US Food and Drug Administration, and the European Union.

Forward-looking information

This document contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information:

Andre Larente
President and CEO
1-877-678-8882 or (450) 678-8882, ext.: 224
alarente@diagnos.ca