Marker for Heart Disease Licensed to Abbott

A nonexclusive sublicense to the worldwide rights for the use of an emerging cardiac marker called placental growth factor (PIGF) has been granted to Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL, USA) by Dade Behring, Inc. (Deerfield, IL, US).

Studies have shown that levels of PIGF may be useful for the prognosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a heart condition that affects millions of people in the world. The license is expected to expand the availability of this marker to a larger spectrum of global healthcare providers.

The agreement allows Abbott to independently develop assays for PIGF for use on its instruments, which may provide doctors with valuable information for the diagnosis, prevention, and prognosis of cardiovascular events, as well as more targeted treatment for patients with ACS. The rights acquired in the agreement are specific to an invention of Professor Zeiher and his group at the University of Frankfurt (Germany), a cardiologist known for his advanced medical research.

ACS describes the continuum from unstable angina to acute myocardial infarction. An early and accurate diagnosis of this health threat can help doctors to provide patients with optimal treatment. PIGF was originally identified in the placenta, and is now considered to be a primary instigator of atherosclerotic plaque instability. It has also been recognized as an independent and powerful predictor for adverse outcome for patients with known or suspected ACS.

"By entering this agreement, we reaffirm our commitment to share the availability of emerging diagnostic markers to ensure patients' access to the best care available,” said Jim Reid-Anderson, chairman, president, and CEO of Dade Behring.




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