European Patent Granted for Epinex Diagnostics Diabetes Test

TUSTIN, CA--(Marketwire - June 14, 2011) -

The European Patent Office (EPO) has granted Epinex Diagnostics the patent for the first ‘Rapid Test for Glycated Albumin.’ The patent (EP 1664783) is for Epinex’ G1A™ Rapid Diabetes Monitoring Index Test, a test with the potential to improve the way diabetes is managed through monthly glycation monitoring at the point-of-care (POC).

The G1A™ is a monthly diabetes test that gives the user a ratio of glycated albumin (GA) to total albumin. High levels of GA indicate protein damage caused by sugar in the blood, indicating diabetes complications. Because albumin is replenished in the body every 3-4 weeks, patients are able to monitor their diabetes up to 12 times per year. Large scale studies have shown that monthly diabetes monitoring and counseling is effective in reducing costs and improving patient outcomes.

Diabetes accounts for 10-20% of healthcare costs in Europe. According to Chris Delicata, President of International Diabetes Federation Europe, European efforts to prevent diabetes are “dramatically underfunded and poorly acknowledged.” There are currently 55 million diabetics living in Europe. Over the next 20 years, this number is expected to increase by 20%, driving annual healthcare expenditures to a record high of USD $125 billion.

“Escalating diabetes costs will inevitably cripple the European healthcare system if no decisive action is taken,” explains Henry Smith, Epinex CTO. “The European patent is our first step in introducing the G1A™ test into the European market and staging a paradigm shift toward monthly diabetes monitoring that will help doctors and patients prevent complications and reduce the exorbitant healthcare costs associated with the disease.”

“The G1A™ test takes only minutes to run,” says Asad Zaidi, Epinex CEO. “This will eliminate the time lag of conventional lab testing and allow doctors to monitor and adjust drug and behavior therapies much more quickly than current testing allows. We expect that use of our test will enhance the safety and effectiveness of diabetes drugs and could help prevent the onset of chronic complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and heart disease for the millions of Europeans living with diabetes.”

About Epinex Diagnostics, Inc.

Epinex Diagnostics is a private medical device company that develops innovative point-of-care diagnostic tests. Follow the company on Twitter and Facebook for the latest developments and visit www.epinex.com for more information.

Digg this Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine

Technorati: diabetes glycated albumin a1c glucose patent insulin type 2 diabetic pinprick test