FULLERTON, Calif., June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beckman Coulter, Inc. announced today that it has granted certain rights to Dade Behring for the use of pregnancy-associated plasma protein (PAPP-A) as a potential cardiac marker. In a related move, Dade Behring has granted Beckman Coulter certain rights for the use of placental growth factor (P1GF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sF1t-1) alone and in conjunction with other emerging cardiac markers, including cardiac PAPP-A, and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L). Studies show all of these markers have the potential to be useful in the management of cardiovascular disease(1-4), a leading cause of death around the world.
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"Cardiovascular disease is a priority area for Beckman Coulter. Its prevalence, associated adverse outcomes, and consequent costs of managing the disease make it an important target of our assay development program. We prioritize disease states on the basis of our potential to improve patient health and reduce the cost of care," said Scott Garrett, president and CEO of Beckman Coulter. "If we are successful in developing tests based on these markers, the agreements with Dade Behring will likely accelerate the pace of market development making the benefits more widely available to patients with cardiovascular disease."
Studies have shown that these emerging cardiac markers have the potential to be useful in the risk assessment, prognosis or diagnosis of cardiovascular disease(2-5). They may also provide independent, complementary information to routine cardiac markers such as Troponin I, B-type natriuretic peptide and high sensitivity C-reactive protein, among others.
Originally identified in the placenta, both P1GF and cardiac PAPP-A are considered to be possible markers of atherosclerotic plaque instability(2,4). PlGF has also been recognized as a possible independent and powerful predictor for adverse outcomes for patients with known or suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS)(4).
sCD40L has been proposed as a marker for primary risk assessment for cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that sCD40L also may be an independent prognostic marker for ACS(3).
About Beckman Coulter
Beckman Coulter, Inc., based in Fullerton, California, develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical tests. More than 200,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in laboratories around the world, supplying critical information for improving patient health and reducing the cost of care. Recurring revenue, consisting of supplies, test kits, service and operating-type lease payments, represents more than 75 percent of the company's 2006 annual revenue of $2.53 billion. For more information, visit http://www.beckmancoulter.com/.
References
1. Baldus, S., C. Heeschen, et al. (2003). "Myeloperoxidase patients with
acute coronary syndromes." Circulation.
2. Heeschen, C., S. Dimmeler, et al. (2004). "Prognostic value of
placental growth factor in patients with acute chest pain." JAMA
291(4).
3. Heeschen, C., S. Dimmeler, et al. (2003). "Soluble CD40 syndromes." N
Engl J Med 348(12): 1104-11.
4. Thorn, E.M. and I.A. Khan, (2006). "Pregnancy-associated plasma
protein-A: An emerging cardiac biomarker." Int J Cardiol, December 6
Editorial.
5. Heeschen C, et al., (2005). ACS: pregnancy-associated plasma
protein-A levels in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Journal of
the American College of Cardiology; 45:229-237.
Contact: Mary Luthy Robert Raynor, Ph.D.
Corp. Communications Investor Relations
Beckman Coulter, Inc. Beckman Coulter, Inc.
(714) 993-8770 (714) 773-7620
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