Bayer and Inverness to Develop Heart Test

An agreement to co-develop a test for congestive heart failure and other tests has been announced by Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics Division (Tarrytown, NY, USA) and Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (Waltham, MA, USA).

Elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been shown to be an indicator of heart failure, providing doctors with an important diagnostic tool in the detection and management of the disease. The first agreement will expand access of the test by developing a point-of-care test for BNP.

"We are very pleased to work with Bayer in developing and producing point-of-care tests using BNP as a marker for congestive heart failure,” said Ron Zwanziger, CEO of Inverness. "Used in combination with our Urotensin marker, we believe that Inverness and Bayer will have a potentially strong position in the early diagnosis of congestive heart failure in both near-patient and laboratory markets.”

A second agreement grants Bayer an option to commercialize the Urotensin marker of Inverness on Bayer's automated immunoassay systems worldwide. In a third agreement, the two companies will work together on developing a test for ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) for worldwide use on Bayer's automated Advia chemistry analyzer. IMA is a serum marker that assists in the early evaluation of acute coronary syndrome prior to heart attack.

The final agreement grants Bayer nonexclusive rights to a hybriderma cell line of Inverness that is capable of producing monoclonal antibodies against the envelope protein of the hepatitis B virus. The agreement gives Bayer the right to use the tests employing this monoclonal antibody on its automated immunoassay systems.




Related Links:
Bayer HealthCare, Diagnostics Div.
Inverness Medical