NORTHBROOK, Ill., Dec. 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A clinical study released online by the European Journal of Heart Failure, a publication of the European Society of Cardiology, demonstrates the value of using Nanosphere's (Nasdaq:NSPH) Verisens™ cTnI assay (RUO) to detect very low levels of troponin I in hospitalized patients with heart failure.*
The research, conducted at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in San Diego, was part of the "Veterans Affairs Effects of Therapy" study. In addition to the VA, there were investigators from UCSD and the Cleveland Clinic. The study employing the Verisens™ assay for troponin I involved 144 patients discharged with acute heart failure, who were followed for 90 days.
Both the BNP and the Verisens™ cTnI assay were tested on blood drawn at admission, discharge, and up to four consecutive days while hospitalized. The new Verisens™ cTnI assay could quantitatively measure troponin I in more than 99% of blood samples. Even at low concentrations, troponin I in the higher quartiles identified increased risk of death and re-hospitalization for patients. Additionally, patients who had rising levels at any concentration while treated in the hospital, had a higher risk of death. Of further note, these results were statistically significant for the Verisens™ cTnI assay, but not for BNP.
"These results are already proving the value of the Nanosphere Verisens™ technology's unmatched sensitivity to measure protein biomarkers, such as low levels of troponin I in heart failure patients," emphasized Winton Gibbons, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Nanosphere.
Additionally, Dr. Alan Maisel, an investigator on the study and well-know expert in biomarkers for heart failure comments that, "We have proven serial sampling of high sensitivity troponin levels in patients admitted for acute heart failure will accomplish two things. First, it will help rule out occlusion of a coronary artery (low levels of troponin) as a cause for decompensation. Secondly, it will help risk stratify patients. Eventually this will allow us to use these high-sensitive levels to target with newer 'anti-ischemic' drugs."
The study can be found at http://eurjhf.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/12/13/eurjhf.hfq210.
*Xue Y, Clopton P, Peacock WF, Maisel AS. "," Eur J Heart Failure 2010.
Heart Failure
According to the Heart Failure Society of America (HSFA), the condition is common and affects almost five million Americans. It is the only major cardiovascular disorder on the rise. The HSFA estimates 400,000 to 700,000 new cases annually, and that the number of deaths has more than doubled since 1979, to approximately 250,000 per year. Heart failure is a disorder whereby the heart muscle is weakened, and the condition continues to get worse over time, with less than 50% of patients alive after five years.
About Verisens™ Troponin (RUO)
Verisens™ Troponin (RUO) assays is a blood test for the high-sensitivity detection and quantification of cardiac troponin I. Currently, it is intended to be performed as a testing service for research use only (see research-use notification below).
For additional information regarding the troponin assay, please contact Nanosphere at troponin@nanosphere.us
Nanosphere is also engaged in validating protein biomarkers for cancer, Alzheimer's and rheumatology, independently and with commercial collaborations.
RESEARCH USE NOTIFICATION
Nanosphere, Inc. is required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to certify in writing that its customers, who purchase or who are supplied with products labeled "For Research Use Only," acknowledge and understand that such products are not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Tests performed with in vitro products intended for "Research Use Only" are tests used in a preclinical or nonclinical setting. While research tests may be performed using either clinical or nonclinical materials, research use devices have no intended clinical use and the testing performed is not designed to provide data addressing or demonstrating safety and effectiveness. We advise our customers to monitor the use of these products, to ensure that they are used for research purposes only. Please contact Nanosphere if you have questions.
About Nanosphere, Inc.
Nanosphere develops, manufactures and markets an advanced molecular diagnostics platform, the Verigene® system, for ultra-sensitive protein, human genetic and infectious disease detection. This easy to use and cost effective platform enables simple, low cost and highly sensitive testing on a single platform. Nanosphere is based in Northbrook, IL. Additional information is available at http://www.nanosphere.us.
The Nanosphere, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4344
CONTACT: Nanosphere, Inc. Winton Gibbons, SVP, Business Development (847) 400-9029 wgibbons@nanosphere.us The Torrenzano Group Media and Investors: 212-681-1700 ed@torrenzano.com