WALTHAM, Mass., April 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (BGMD), a company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular diagnostics, welcomed the announcement today that Abbott has obtained a CE Mark for the Galectin-3 assay run on the ARCHITECT immunochemistry platform. <\/p>\n
The launch of the ARCHITECT Galectin-3 test under CE Mark will further expand the availability of galectin-3 testing in several European countries, pending country registration. BG Medicine is partnering with four diagnostic instrument manufacturers to commercialize automated versions of the BGM Galectin-3 test. <\/p>\n
\"The launch of the ARCHITECT Galectin-3 test under CE Mark is another important step in our commercial strategy. We are very pleased with the progress made by our partner Abbott, a worldwide leader in in vitro diagnostics, to expand the use of galectin-3 testing in heart failure patients,\" said Eric Bouvier, President and Chief Executive Officer of BG Medicine. The announcement will strengthen our ability to drive the growth of galectin-3 testing throughout the world.\" <\/p>\n
\"Galectin-3 is a powerful indicator of prognosis and risk for readmission in heart failure. Having a rapid turn-around galectin-3 result means heart failure patients at high-risk for such adverse events can be more readily identified,\" said Stefan Anker MD, PhD and President of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology. \"Given the rise in heart failure, it is critical we introduce new tools that aid fast clinical decision making processes and provide options to explore new interventions.\" <\/p>\n
In addition to Abbott, BG Medicine is partnering with Alere Inc., bioMerieux SA, and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. to supply automated versions of its galectin-3 test to key segments of the market. Earlier this year, bioMerieux SA launched the test in Europe and in certain other territories that recognize the CE Mark. <\/p>\n
About Galectin-3 testing <\/p>\n
Galectin-3 has been implicated in a variety of biological processes important in the development and progression of heart failure. Higher levels of galectin-3 are associated with a more aggressive form of heart failure, which may make identification of high-risk patients using galectin-3 testing an important part of patient care. Galectin-3 testing may be useful in helping physicians determine which patients are at higher risk of death or hospitalization, including 30-day readmission. <\/p>\n
About BG Medicine, Inc. <\/p>\n
BG Medicine, Inc. (BGMD) is a diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular tests to address significant unmet medical needs, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The Company has two products: the BGM Galectin-3(R) test for use in patients with chronic heart failure is available in the United States and Europe; and the CardioSCORE(TM) test for the risk prediction of major cardiovascular events is expected to be launched in Europe in the first half of 2013. For additional information about BG Medicine, heart failure and galectin-3 testing, please visit http:\/\/www.bg-medicine.com<\/a> and http:\/\/www.galectin-3.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n The BG Medicine Inc. logo is available at http:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/newsroom\/prs\/?pkgid=10352<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n View original post here:<\/p>\n BG Medicine Welcomes CE Mark for Galectin-3 Test<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WALTHAM, Mass., April 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. Continue reading