Novel Biomarker Diagnoses Acute Heart Failure

The biomarker, cluster of differentiation 146 (CD146), which can be measured in the blood, significantly improves the diagnosis of acute heart failure for patients with shortness of breath.

This biomarker provides clinicians with unique additional information allowing better treatment of this challenging group of patients and has the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy of specific peptide tests.

Current clinical practice for triaging patients with shortness of breath includes the measurement of specific peptides: B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) or N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Despite the widespread use of these biomarkers, there is still room for improvement.

Scientists at French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM; Paris, France) have confirmed the performance of the CD146 biomarker (Pronota NV; Ghent, Belgium) in two independent studies totaling over 500 patients. Pronota identified the biomarker CD146, also known as the melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), from an unbiased proteomics effort.

Alexandre Mebazaa MD, PhD, the 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."

Katleen Verleysen, PhD, the CEO of Pronota, said, “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. 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."


Related Links:
French National Institute of Health and Medical Research
Pronota NV