A Diagnostic Test Is Being Developed for Preeclampsia

A suite of 35 novel biomarkers is produced during the development of the placenta and implicated in the condition of preeclampsia. Tests for these biomarkers will be developed and their performance evaluated in large cohorts of patient blood samples. The biomarkers will also be assessed for their utility in detecting intrauterine growth restriction and other diseases of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is a debilitating and potentially fatal complication of pregnancy. Miraculins Inc. (Winnipeg, MB, Canada), a medical diagnostic company, announced that it has entered into a partnership with Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (Waltham, MA, USA) to advance and commercialize Miraculins' preeclampsia technology. The collaborative research and option agreement will enable Inverness, through its Biosite division, to develop tests using Miraculins' biomarkers.

In addition to its research and development commitment, Inverness will pay a nonrefundable fee to Miraculins for the exclusive option to license and commercialize any biomarkers of interest from the program. Miraculins will retain certain commercial rights to pursue complementary commercial strategies for the markers and to receive from Inverness a secure supply of reagents and certain rights to intellectual property (IP) related to the biomarker endoglin.

Preeclampsia affects three million mothers worldwide every year and is associated with premature births and infant illness including cerebral palsy, blindness, epilepsy, deafness, and lung conditions. Estimating the risk of preeclampsia is difficult and the cause is unknown. It is estimated that preeclampsia costs the global health care system US$3 billion per year.

Miraculins is a company focused on developing and commercializing diagnostic tests for unmet clinical needs.

Inverness is a leader in the convergence of medical diagnostic testing and health management.

Related Links:
Miraculins Inc.
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc.
Biosite