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Use of Galectin-3 as a Risk Marker for Heart Failure Development to be Presented at American College of Cardiology 60th Annual Scientific Session

WALTHAM, Mass., April 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD) today announced that results from an initial research study of galectin-3 to identify individuals at risk for the development of heart failure (HF) will be featured in a poster presentation during the American College of Cardiology 60th Annual Scientific Session (ACC.11), to be held April 2-5, 2011 in New Orleans, LA.
/ Source: GlobeNewswire

WALTHAM, Mass., April 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD) today announced that results from an initial research study of galectin-3 to identify individuals at risk for the development of heart failure (HF) will be featured in a poster presentation during the American College of Cardiology 60th Annual Scientific Session (ACC.11), to be held April 2-5, 2011 in New Orleans, LA.

The objective of this pilot study was to investigate if elevated galectin-3 levels in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients can be used to identify individuals at higher risk for the development of HF. The study was a nested case-control study from PROVE-IT-TIMI 22 among ACS patients randomized to intensive vs. moderate statin therapy. One hundred patients who were hospitalized for new or worsening HF after ACS were matched 1:1 with controls for age, sex, ACS type, and randomized treatment. The study results will be presented by Edward Grandin, MD from the TIMI Study Group, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

"Over the past several years, studies have suggested that elevated levels of galectin-3 are associated with an inherently progressive form of heart failure resulting in increased hospitalization and premature death," noted Pieter Muntendam, M.D., President and CEO of BG Medicine. "Based on our understanding of the role of galectin-3 as a culprit marker in heart failure, we anticipated that elevated galectin-3 levels could precede the diagnosis of heart failure in many patients and this represents the first study to evaluate this hypothesis."

"In our pilot study, galectin-3 showed intriguing potential to identify patients with ACS who are more likely to develop heart failure," said David A. Morrow, MD, MPH, from the TIMI Study Group, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and the principal investigator of this study. "Finding individuals at risk for heart failure before the onset of heart failure symptoms might enable new approaches to intervene to prevent this important complication of ACS."   

The results of the study will be presented at as follows:

Sessions are embargoed until time of presentation.

About Heart Failure

Heart failure is caused by a combination of factors involving structural changes that reduce blood flow and damage or overwork the heart muscle, so that it cannot circulate blood efficiently to meet the needs of other body organs. Heart failure may lead to serious medical complications and is a leading cause of death. According to the American Heart Association, heart failure affects an estimated 5.7 million Americans with 670,000 new diagnoses each year. The estimated direct and indirect cost of this condition in the U.S. is $39.2 billion annually. 

About BG Medicine

BG Medicine is a life sciences company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel diagnostics based on biomarkers to improve patient outcomes and contain healthcare costs. BG Medicine recently launched the galectin-3 test for use in patients with heart failure. The galectin-3 test is the first novel blood test for cardiac disease cleared by the FDA in five years. For additional information about BG Medicine and galectin-3 testing, please visit and .

The BG Medicine Inc. logo is available at

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CONTACT: Michael W. Rogers EVP & Chief Financial Officer (781) 890-1199