Press Release
Abbott to Develop New Heart Failure Test on ARCHITECT® Immunochemistry Diagnostics Platform
November 17, 2009
Abbott Park, Illinois and Waltham, Massachusetts, — Abbott (NYSE: ABT)
and BG Medicine, Inc. today announced a development and commercialization
agreement for galectin-3, a novel biomarker that may play a role in detecting
the development and progression of heart failure. The assay will be developed
for Abbott's ARCHITECT immunochemistry instrument platform, specifically the
company's i1000SR and i2000SR instruments. The agreement grants Abbott a
license to BG Medicine's intellectual property related to galectin-3. Financial
terms were not disclosed.
"Heart failure is one of the most costly medical conditions in the
world, with 37 percent of U.S. Medicare dollars alone spent on heart conditions
each year," said Michael Warmuth, senior vice president, diagnostics
products, Abbott. "Novel markers like galectin-3 have the potential to make
important contributions to improving patient and economic outcomes as we work
to better understand this deadly and costly disease."
Galectin-3 is a protein that plays an integral role in the biological
functions related to the initiation and progression of cardiac fibrosis and
scarring which is a leading cause of heart failure (HF). Several studies have
shown that galectin-3 may provide valuable insight about heart failure and its
underlying disease processes.
"This development and commercialization partnership with Abbott is an
exciting opportunity to explore a promising diagnostic test with broad
applicability in cardiovascular disease on a leading laboratory platform,"
said Pieter Muntendam, MD, president and CEO of BG Medicine. "BG Medicine's
strong life science discovery research program combined with Abbott's
scientific and development leadership will enable us to bring important new
tests to patients and laboratories."
About Abbott Diagnostics
Abbott Diagnostics is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics, with
expertise in cardiac, metabolic and renal testing. Abbott's comprehensive
portfolio of cardiac tests includes biomarkers that help thousands of labs and
doctors around the world to diagnose and assess heart failure and myocardial
infarction. With more than 69,000 institutional customers in more than 100
countries, Abbott's diagnostic products offer customers quick processing of
results, automation, convenience, cost effectiveness and flexibility.
About BG Medicine
BG Medicine is a life sciences company focused on the discovery,
development, and commercialization of novel diagnostics based on biomarkers to
improve patient outcomes and contain healthcare costs. BG Medicine's
proprietary technology platform enables rapid and cost-effective discovery of
new high-value diagnostics biomarkers over a broad range of therapeutic areas.
More information regarding BG Medicine is available on the company's Web site
at www.bg-medicine.com
About Abbott
Abbott (NYSE: ABT)
is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery,
development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products,
including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than
72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
ARCHITECT, i1000SR and i2000SR are trademarks of Abbott
Laboratories.
Abbott Media:
Ann Fahey-Widman |
(847) 938-6388 |
Abbott Financial:
Tina Ventura |
(847) 935-9390 |
BG Medicine:
Chris Fontes |
(781) 434-0203 |
