January 9, 2007 > Ciphergen, Quest to develop peripheral artery disease diagnostic Ciphergen, Quest to develop peripheral artery disease diagnostic San Jose Business Journal, January 3_Ciphergen Biosystems Inc. said Wednesday that Quest Diagnostics Inc. accepted a second development plan from Ciphergen under an existing strategic alliance agreement. In addition to a current ovarian tumor triage test, New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) will also assist Fremont-based Ciphergen (NASDAQ:CIPH) in developing a blood-based assay for the detection of peripheral artery disease. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Ciphergen is already working with Stanford University to develop a blood test that will help physicians in the disease's diagnosis. Similar to cardiovascular disease, it is caused by the buildup of fat and cholesterol, known as plaque, in the peripheral arteries and disrupts normal blood flow. Ciphergen said that peripheral artery disease affects 8 to 12 million Americans, and nearly 75 percent of them do not experience symptoms.