SAN DIEGO, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Biosite® Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSTE - News) and Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve (HUG), a leading clinical research hospital in Europe, have entered into a collaboration for the identification and validation of novel, protein-based disease biomarkers for kidney injury. The biomarkers could be used for the development of potential blood-based diagnostic products aimed at diagnosing kidney injury.
Under the terms of the collaboration, HUG will identify and validate several biomarkers discovered in blood and tissue samples from kidney injury patients. Biosite will have the rights to develop diagnostic tests using one or more of those biomarkers. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The research groups of Dr. Solange Moll and Professor Denis Hochstrasser of the department of clinical pathology at HUG have discovered more than 10 proteins specific to kidney function that may yield biomarkers for certain renal conditions. Understanding the important potential of these discoveries, Unitec, the office of technology transfer at HUG, has filed for several patent applications in this field.
“Kidney injury can occur as the result of chronic or acute conditions. In order to provide useful information to physicians the timing and the nature of the injury need to be identified,” said Gunars Valkirs, Ph.D., senior vice president Biosite Discovery. “HUG is a leading proteomics center in Europe and this collaboration may further advance Biosite’s efforts in developing a rapid diagnostic test for kidney injury.”
“We are pleased to collaborate with a company of Biosite’s caliber for the development of a diagnostic for kidney injury,” said Prof. Denis Hochstrasser, head of the department of clinical pathology of HUG. “As physicians, we perceive the acute need for such a diagnostic, and we are hopeful that our collaboration with Biosite will eventually yield us tools that will help us provide better care to our patients.”
Kidney injury is frequently acquired in a hospital setting(1) and is most often the result of decreased blood flow to the kidneys from major surgery or trauma, infection, dehydration or adverse reactions to medications.(2) Important risk factors for kidney injury include high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, advanced age, the presence of infection and the presence of other failing organs.(3,4,5) Mortality is approximately three times higher in patients with acute kidney injury than in those without, both in the intensive care unit and in the overall hospital patient population.(6)
About Biosite Incorporated
Biosite Incorporated is a leading bio-medical company commercializing proteomics discoveries for the advancement of medical diagnosis. The Company’s products contribute to improvements in medical care by aiding physicians in the diagnosis of critical diseases and health conditions. Biosite’s Triage® rapid diagnostics are used in approximately 50 percent of U.S. hospitals and in more than 50 international markets. Information on Biosite can be found at www.biosite.com.
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements that are preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “will"; “believes"; “should"; “intends"; “anticipates"; “plans"; “expects"; “estimates"; or similar statements are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include statements about the potential benefits of the collaboration to Biosite and Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve and Biosite’s ability evaluate the diagnostic utility of the biomarker targets. In addition, there can be no guarantees that Biosite will develop any diagnostic product in the field of kidney injury. Even if Biosite believes it has initially developed such a product, Biosite may not be able to complete the development or obtain the regulatory approvals to commercialize the product. Risks that should be considered include risks and uncertainties regarding the discovery and product development process generally, risks associated with the introduction of competitive products from companies with greater capital and resources, uncertainties around the proprietary nature of the targets subject to the collaboration, and risks and expenses associated with litigation, contract disputes, patent conflicts, changes in reimbursement policies, regulatory changes, and the other risks detailed in Biosite’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings. Biosite disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Copies of Biosite’s public disclosure filings are available from its investor relations department.
Biosite®, Triage® and New Dimensions in Diagnosis® are registered trademarks of Biosite Incorporated. The Company’s logo is a trademark of Biosite Incorporated. (1) Nolan CR, Anderson RJ. Hospital-Acquired Acute Renal Failure. J Amer Society of Nephrology (1998): 710-18. (2) Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, www.cincinnatichildrens.org, as downloaded on May 5, 2006. (3) de Mendonca A, Vincent JL, Suter PM, et al. Acute Renal Failure in the ICU: Risk Factors and Outcome Evaluated by the SOFA Score. Intensive Care Med (2000) 26: 915-921. (4) The American Society of Nephrology, www.asn-online.org, as downloaded on April 5, 2006. (5) Chertow GM, Lazarus JM, Christiansen CL, et al. Preoperative Renal Risk Stratification. Circulation (1997); 95: 878-84. (6) de Mendonca A, Vincent JL, Suter PM, et al. Acute Renal Failure in the ICU: Risk Factors and Outcome Evaluated by the SOFA Score. Intensive Care Med (2000) 26: 915-921.
Source: Biosite Incorporated
