Ghent, Belgium, 18 april 2013 – Two independent validation studies demonstrate that Pronota’s biomarker CD146 significantly improves the diagnosis of acute heart failure for patients with shortness of breath. The biomarker, measured in blood, provides clinicians with unique additional information allowing better treatment of this challenging group of patients.
Current diagnosis for acute heart failure is limited
Current clinical practice for triaging patients with shortness of breath includes the measurement of specific peptides (B-type natriuretic peptides: BNP or NT-proBNP). Despite the widespread use of these biomarkers, there is still much room for improvement. “Natriuretic peptides have become standard tools to support making the correct diagnosis in patients with shortness of breath. However, clinicians clearly recognize the limitations of natriuretic peptides. The potential value of another biomarker to improve the diagnostic accuracy of BNP or NT-proBNP is considerable,” commented Prof. J. Januzzi (Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School).
Pronota’s novel heart failure marker for accurate diagnosis
Pronota identified the biomarker CD146 from an unbiased proteomics effort. Its performance has now been confirmed in two independent studies totaling over 500 patients. Prof. A. Mebazaa (INSERM, Paris, France), principal investigator for the validation studies, commented: “It is exciting to see that novel biomarkers with underlying biological processes completely different from currently used biomarkers can still be discovered and validated. This not only provides more insight into the underlying disease mechanism, it also gives the physician tools to improve the management and care of heart failure patients. Pronota’s approach in this respect is unique and has proven to deliver on numerous occasions.”
Launch forecast: 2014
“Data from early verification and marker characterization studies were already highly exciting, but the recent independent validation studies exceeded our expectations and would not have been possible without the support of our network of key opinion leaders in the field” commented Katleen Verleysen, CEO of Pronota NV. “We anticipate launching this product in 2014, so that clinicians may get access to the tools they need to improve the treatment and care of their patients.”
