bioMérieux Launches VIDAS® NT-proBNP, an Aid for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Heart Failure

“This launch reinforces bioMérieux’s commitment in the field of life-threatening cardiac pathologies. VIDAS® NT-proBNP is an innovative test and an important tool for patient management”, declared Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of bioMérieux. “The unique VIDAS design makes this assay available 24 hours a day for emergency departments. Year to date, bioMérieux has now launched its 3rd VIDAS test that brings high medical value to clinicians”, he added.

VIDAS® NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), a quantitative marker of heart stress, provides objective diagnostic information that helps distinguish heart failure from other disease states with similar clinical symptoms, for instance lung diseases or pulmonary embolism. It has the potential to detect early stages of heart failure in the absence of clinically obvious symptoms. In addition, it can be used to assess the prognosis of patients with established heart failure or acute coronary syndrome.

NT-proBNP measurement has been shown to be cost-effective and could lead to important healthcare cost-savings. A recent Canadian study reported a reduction in direct medical costs of 15% (USD 949 per patient) when NT-proBNP testing was part of routine assessment of emergency department patients with dyspnea.

The test will be a key addition for the bioMérieux VIDAS® emergency panel which already covers markers of cardiac necrosis (VIDAS® Troponin I Ultra, Myoglobin and CK-MB), venous thromboembolism (VIDAS® D-Dimer Exclusion™) and bacterial infections (VIDAS® B.R.A.H.M.S PCT). With over 20,000 VIDAS® systems installed worldwide, bioMérieux is making NT-proBNP testing accessible to a large number of laboratories.

About Heart Failure

Heart failure is a major healthcare issue, whose frequency is expected to continue to rise in the coming years due to the worldwide aging population and increased survival rate from acute coronary events.
It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people over 65 years of age, affecting up to 17 million people worldwide. In the U.S., 5 million people suffer from heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (Rosamond W, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics –2007 update. A report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation 2007; 115:e69-e171.).

About NT-proBNP

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is secreted primarily by the left ventricle when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently (e.g. in cases of heart failure). NT-proBNP is cleaved from the precursor protein proBNP in quantities directly proportional to its biologically active counterpart BNP and in close correlation with the severity of heart failure.

About bioMérieux

Advancing Diagnostics to Improve Public Health
A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for over 40 years, bioMérieux is present in more than 150 countries through 35 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2006, revenues reached €1.037 billion with 83% of sales outside of France.

bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (reagents, instruments, software), which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Our products are used for diagnosing infectious diseases and providing high medical value results for cardiovascular emergencies and cancer screening and monitoring. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. bioMérieux is listed on Eurolist by Euronext. For more information, visit http://www.biomerieux.com/.