AHA presentations support Secretoneurin’s key role
Oslo, November 10, CardiNor AS, a newly established Norwegian biotech company, today announced that is has received an initial USD 0.75 million to start development of an IVD for the neuropeptide Secretoneurin (SN). This biomarker is creating a great deal of interest as the potential missing link in assessment and management of the 30 million patients having arrhythmia. Earlier this year, JACC ran an editorial headlined: “Will Secretoneurin be the next big thing?”, referring to its potential role of complementing troponin and BNP as a third key frontline test and this is further supported by presentations at this week’s ADA in Orlando. The new company’s management, together with the scientific team from Akerhus University Hospital in Oslo, bring valuable experience gained in developing both these tests, and another key test, homocysteine, to the Secretoneurin program.
Publications by world leading cardiac experts have shown that elevated levels of Secretoneurin in the blood increase risk of cardiovascular (CVD) mortality. According to CardiNor CEO Dag Christiansen this is welcome news because the current test regime lacks the desired sensitivity and specificity for proper patient selection for cardiac rhythm management: “It is known that 70% of the patients who have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) do not need the device. This results in both unnecessary patient stress and device costs in the EU of USD 10 billion. By developing a simple blood-based Secretoneurin test, we believe we can dramatically change this situation and provide the missing link in CV risk assessment.”
A US patent covering the commercial use of SN in CVD has been granted and an EU patent is pending. Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. It is estimated that some 42 million people will have heart failure by 2018. Currently the cost to US society alone is more than USD 31 billion.
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For more information: Dag Christiansen, CEO, CardiNor AS.
Tel: +47 922 548 55
Email: dcchrist@online.no
For media: Richard Hayhurst
Tel: +44 7711 821 527
Email: Richard@richardhayhurstassociates.com
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