WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (OTCQB:ILIU), a life sciences company focused on the genetics of chronic inflammation, announced today that it has entered into a relationship with the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH) to offer the ILUSTRA Inflammation Management Program to PBGH employer-members in the Pittsburgh area as part of a company’s enhanced employee benefits plan.
“PBGH is the region’s leading employer-led coalition designed to drive transparency in health care data, cost and quality. Western Pennsylvania has a history of health care innovation and we are delighted to be working together to build on this heritage,” said Mark Carbeau, Chief Executive Officer of Interleukin Genetics. “This relationship advances our commercial strategy by providing targeted access to many of the region’s most innovative employers. We have already contracted with one PGBH employer group and are advancing discussions with others.”
According to Jessica Brooks, CEO & Executive Director, PBGH, the organization’s employer-members are interested in fostering this relationship in order to continue to drive better healthcare and wellness for their employees.
“Our goal is to bring innovative programs to our employer-members to enable them to not only drive value in their benefits programs, but also to provide quality initiatives that impact wellness. We are committed to our members and will continue to assist in sharing best practices with other interested organizations,” she said.
The ILUSTRA Inflammation Management Program targets individuals with elevated risk for severe periodontitis due to a genetic tendency to over-produce inflammation and directs them to obtain proper dental care. The program integrates three critical components: 1) a genetic risk test to identify patients at risk; 2) targeted education to healthcare professionals to individualize employee care plans; and 3) an 18-month subscription to the ILUSTRA Engagement Platform - a digital program that delivers engaging, personalized content tailored to maximize engagement and drive compliance and behavior change.
Several studies link oral and systemic disease and document the significant impact of enhanced dental care to lower costs of medical management of certain chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. ILUSTRA is a proprietary program that has the potential to transform inflammation management by optimizing access to dental care to impact the onset and the progression of chronic diseases, and thereby reducing employer healthcare costs.
About the ILUSTRA Inflammation Management Program
The ILUSTRA Inflammation Management Program is designed to transform the management of inflammation. The program utilizes a genetic test to identify patients at elevated risk for developing severe periodontal disease due to a genetic tendency to over-produce inflammation. Such individuals may benefit from enhanced dental care to lower their systemic inflammatory burden by preventing and treating gingivitis and periodontitis. The program integrates educational outreach to the patient’s care team and provides reminders and content to patients to drive engagement. The ILUSTRA Inflammation Management Program is made available to employees in covered health plans under the supervision of a licensed dentist or physician. The ILUSTRA test is run solely in Interleukin’s CLIA-certified lab in suburban Boston. For more information, visit www.ILUSTRA.com.
About PBGH
Founded in 1981, the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health is a non-profit organization and business-only coalition representing more than 100 employer-member companies. PBGH promotes health care and benefits strategies through education, collaboration and innovation among members, and in the community, to deliver value and quality for members and their employees.
About Interleukin Genetics, Inc.
Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (OTCQB:ILIU) develops and markets proprietary genetic tests for chronic inflammatory diseases and health-related conditions, with significant expertise in metabolism and inflammation. Our tests provide information that is not otherwise available, to empower individuals and their healthcare providers to manage their health and wellness through genetics-based insights and actionable guidance. Interleukin Genetics’ lead products include its proprietary ILUSTRA Inflammation Management Program, an integrated program that utilizes a simple genetic test to easily identify patients at elevated risk for developing severe periodontal disease due to a genetic tendency to over-produce inflammation, and its Inherent Health® line of genetic tests. Interleukin Genetics is headquartered in suburban Boston and operates an on-site DNA testing laboratory certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). For more information, please visit www.ilgenetics.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking” statements, including, but not limited to, statements that our ILUSTRA Inflammation Management Program has potential to provide significant health and economic value by improving the management of chronic inflammation and that certain individuals may benefit from enhanced dental care to lower their systemic inflammatory burden by preventing and treating gingivitis and periodontitis. Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties described in Interleukin’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Interleukin disclaims any obligation or intention to update these forward-looking statements.