Pulmonary Biomarker Surfactant Protein-B Is Used for Diagnosis
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 10 Dec 2008 |
Roche Diagnostics (Rotkreuz, Switzerland) and an Australian Biotech company, Southern Medical Diagnostics (SMD; Walkerville, Australia) signed licensing agreements on diagnostic applications of Surfactant Protein-B.
According to the agreements, Roche will have semi-exclusive worldwide rights for diagnostic applications of Surfactant Protein-B (SP-B) in lung disorders; SMD will have worldwide rights to key test-components developed by Roche, which SMD may exclusively use for SP-B applications.
A lung-specific protein and a key functional component of the alveolus, SP-B is present at very low concentrations in the serum of healthy people. It is released into the blood stream as a result of lung injury and is significantly increased in primary and secondary lung disorders affecting mainly the lung parenchyma. This includes the alveolocapillary system, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and heart failure. Changes of lung disorders can be monitored by measuring levels of SP-B in the blood.
Together with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP or NT-proBNP) tests, SP-B helps to discriminate between cardiac and non-cardiac causes of dyspnea.
"Roche Diagnostics believes that tests for Surfactant Protein-B will be very valuable in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and monitoring of patients with primary and secondary pulmonary disorders," said Dirk Ehlers, head of Roche Professional Diagnostics." He added, "The SP-B assay will allow earlier recognition of cardio-pulmonary conditions and thereby prepare the basis for improved treatment in the future."
Roche is one of the world's leading healthcare groups in the fields of diagnostics and pharmaceutics. The company is a world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology.
Southern Medical Diagnostics Pty Ltd. is a private Australian company specializing in the development and out-licensing of novel diagnostic technologies.
Related Links:
Roche Diagnostics
Southern Medical Diagnostics
According to the agreements, Roche will have semi-exclusive worldwide rights for diagnostic applications of Surfactant Protein-B (SP-B) in lung disorders; SMD will have worldwide rights to key test-components developed by Roche, which SMD may exclusively use for SP-B applications.
A lung-specific protein and a key functional component of the alveolus, SP-B is present at very low concentrations in the serum of healthy people. It is released into the blood stream as a result of lung injury and is significantly increased in primary and secondary lung disorders affecting mainly the lung parenchyma. This includes the alveolocapillary system, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and heart failure. Changes of lung disorders can be monitored by measuring levels of SP-B in the blood.
Together with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP or NT-proBNP) tests, SP-B helps to discriminate between cardiac and non-cardiac causes of dyspnea.
"Roche Diagnostics believes that tests for Surfactant Protein-B will be very valuable in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and monitoring of patients with primary and secondary pulmonary disorders," said Dirk Ehlers, head of Roche Professional Diagnostics." He added, "The SP-B assay will allow earlier recognition of cardio-pulmonary conditions and thereby prepare the basis for improved treatment in the future."
Roche is one of the world's leading healthcare groups in the fields of diagnostics and pharmaceutics. The company is a world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology.
Southern Medical Diagnostics Pty Ltd. is a private Australian company specializing in the development and out-licensing of novel diagnostic technologies.
Related Links:
Roche Diagnostics
Southern Medical Diagnostics
Latest Molecular Diagnostics News
- Blood Test Identifies Early Breast and Prostate Cancer Signals Years Before Diagnosis
- Liquid Biopsy Measures Tumor Burden and Identifies Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtypes
- Tumor and Immune Biomarkers Linked to Treatment Response in T-Cell Lymphoma
- Rapid Lab-Free UTI Test Enters First Use in Care Home Setting
- Blood MRD Testing Aids Risk Analysis in Bladder and Other Cancers
- New NGS Panel Detects AML Fusions at MRD-Level Sensitivity
- Spinal Fluid Liquid Biopsy May Help Clarify Uncertain Brain Tumor Findings
- Digital Twins Predict Treatment Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Blood-Based Small RNA Assay Predicts Survival After Lung Cancer Treatment
- RNA Sequencing Assay Gains EU Certification for Solid Tumor Profiling
- Whole-Genome MRD Test Detects Traces of Cancer During and After Treatment
- Genomic Tissue Test Predicts Metastasis and Abiraterone Benefit in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
- Updated Framework Guides Assessment of Actionable Cancer Biomarkers
- Six-Gene Score Improves Prognosis Prediction in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- Long-Read Sequencing Reveals Cancer-Driving Changes Missed by Conventional Testing
- Molecular Vaginitis Panel Gains FDA Clearance and CLIA Waiver for Point-of-Care Use
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Blood-Based Score May Support Targeted Interventions for Healthier Aging
Chronic diseases frequently accumulate with age, complicating efforts to maintain functional independence in older adults. Studies cited by the investigators indicate that about 60% of people over age... Read more
Noninvasive Tests Offer Alternatives to Biopsy for Assessing Advanced Liver Scarring
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects up to one in three adults worldwide and as many as seven in 10 people with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Its more severe form, metabolic... Read moreHematology
view channel
Genetic Testing Offers Opportunities for Earlier Blood Disorder Carrier Identification
Inherited hemoglobin disorders can affect oxygen transport, yet individuals who carry only a trait may remain unaware of their status. People with sickle cell trait or beta-thalassemia trait often have... Read more
New Risk-Stratification Tool Predicts Relapse After Blinatumomab in Childhood ALL
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young people requires careful assessment of relapse risk, particularly as treatment approaches move beyond standard chemotherapy. Traditional relapse predictors... Read moreImmunology
view channel
Roche Gains FDA Clearance for Flexible Respiratory Pathogen Panel
Respiratory infections often cause overlapping viral and bacterial symptoms, making diagnosis more difficult during peak respiratory seasons. This uncertainty can be especially important for high-risk... Read more
Prototype Point-of-Care Lateral Flow Test Aims to Improve Neonatal Sepsis Triage
Sepsis in newborns and young infants remains a major clinical challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. An estimated 2.3 million newborns die each year, with sepsis contributing substantially... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Repeat Prenatal STI Screening and Treatment May Reduce Preterm Births
Preterm birth remains a major obstetric concern and is associated with serious complications in early childhood. Common sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy often cause no symptoms, making... Read more
Decentralized Laboratory Network Improves Detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in Guinea
Viral hemorrhagic fevers remain a major diagnostic challenge in West Africa because their early symptoms can resemble those of other febrile illnesses. The 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic underscored the need... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Pathology Approach Closely Aligns With Breast Cancer Genomic Risk Classification
In early-stage breast cancer, precision oncology relies on biological information to guide personalized treatment decisions. Because access to tissue-based genomic testing may be limited, there is growing... Read more
Roche Launches Automated Test to Support Mesothelioma Differential Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare, deadly cancer that forms in the tissue lining many internal organs. Most patients are diagnosed late, with median overall survival reported at 12 to 18 months. Differential diagnosis... Read more
Digital Pathology Test Stratifies Recurrence Risk in Early Breast Cancer
In hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer, accurate recurrence-risk assessment helps guide treatment decisions. However, individual risks... Read more
AI Pathology Tool Predicts DNA Repair Deficiency in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
High-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma is an aggressive cancer arising in the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Some tumors exhibit homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), a feature reflecting impaired DNA repair.... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Personal PCR Analyzer Aims to Enable At-Home Infectious Disease Testing
PCR amplifies DNA to enable highly accurate testing, but its reliance on complex, expensive laboratory analyzers has traditionally kept many workflows in centralized settings. A new personal DNA analyzer... Read more
Microfluidic Assay Predicts Treatment Response in Pediatric Leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rapidly developing blood cancer that can disrupt production of mature infection-fighting white blood cells within months. More than 120,000 people in the U.... Read moreIndustry
view channel
CE-Marked IVD Sequencing Platform Launches Across Ten EU Countries
Clinical laboratories using sequencing in regulated diagnostic workflows need systems that support clearly defined processes and documentation. In Europe, meeting applicable EU IVDR requirements also means... Read more







