Abbott and BG Medicine have entered into a development and commercialisation agreement for galectin-3, a novel biomarker that may play a role in detecting the development and progression of heart failure.
Galectin-3 is a protein that plays an integral role in the biological functions related to the initiation and progression of cardiac fibrosis and scarring which is a leading cause of heart failure (HF). Several studies have shown that galectin-3 may provide valuable insight about heart failure and its underlying disease processes.
Reportedly, the assay will be developed for Abbott’s Architect immunochemistry instrument platform, specifically the company’s i1000SR and i2000SR instruments. The agreement grants Abbott a license to BG Medicine’s intellectual property related to galectin-3. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Michael Warmuth, senior vice president of diagnostics products at Abbott, said: “Novel markers like galectin-3 have the potential to make important contributions to improving patient and economic outcomes as we work to better understand this deadly and costly disease.”
Pieter Muntendam, president and CEO of BG Medicine, said: “This development and commercialisation partnership with Abbott is an exciting opportunity to explore diagnostic test with broad applicability in cardiovascular disease on a leading laboratory platform. BG Medicine’s life science discovery research program combined with Abbott will enable us to bring important new tests to patients and laboratories.”