Leading medical diagnostics/research company announced today a license
agreement with Bayer Diagnostics for Urinary Trypsin Inhibitor Immunoassays
DEDHAM, Mass., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Signet Laboratories, Inc., a
leading medical diagnostics/research company specializing in the development
of monoclonal antibodies and diagnostic assays for cancer, infectious disease,
and neurodegenerative disease, today announced a license agreement with Bayer
Diagnostics to conduct research on Urinary Trypsin Inhibitor Immunoassays.
Discovered by Bayer scientists, the immunoassays detect two markers of
inflammation, uristatin (Uri) and bikunin (Bik), found in blood and urine.
Acute Inflammation can result from a number of illnesses including sepsis,
meningitis, respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, viral infection,
and bacterial infection. Chronic inflammation is often associated with
diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease,
kidney diseases, and certain auto-immune disorders, such as rheumatoid
arthritis and organ failure.
"Signet will evaluate the utility of the trypsin inhibitors as biomarkers
for acute renal failure in pilot trials that are underway with a view toward
developing them into companion assays for the Nephroscreen ELISA kit currently
offered by Signet," said Dr. Peggy Taylor, VP of Production and Development,
Signet Laboratories, Inc. Nephroscreen is an RUO assay that may predict the
onset of Acute Renal Failure (ARF), based on quantitation of urine levels of
Adenosine deaminase binding protein, a brush border protein that is shed in
response to nephrotoxicity.
"Inflammation is the body's protective response to an injury. If the
response goes unchecked, however, it can negatively affect vital organs. For
example, inflammation of the kidney may cause kidney failure. The trypsin
inhibitors Uri and Bik are cutting-edge biomarkers that can have a great
impact on the diagnosis and management of diseases for inflammation, such as
kidney disease," said Dr. Michael Pugia, director of Urinalysis R&D, Bayer
Diagnostics. "We are confident that with Signet's expertise in developing
important immunoassays for medical researchers, these markers will one day
improve and manage health in people affected by inflammatory diseases."
About Signet Laboratories, Inc.
Signet Laboratories, Inc. (Dedham, MA) is a leading medical
diagnostics/research company specializing in the development of monoclonal
antibodies and diagnostic assays for cancer, infectious disease, and
neurodegenerative disease. Signet was created in 1989 as a commercial spinout
of Johnson & Johnson's Cambridge Research Laboratories, Inc.
The Company was founded to continue the mission originally established at
CRL -- the early detection and recurrence monitoring of patients with cancer
and infectious disease. Signet has developed patented technology for diagnosis
and recurrence monitoring and for risk assessment of asymptomatic patients in
these areas. For more than a decade, the Company has aggressively maintained
licensing and development programs, which are responsible for its broad patent
and intellectual property estate.
About Bayer HealthCare, Diagnostics Division
Bayer HealthCare, Diagnostics Division (http://www.bayerdiag.com), based
in Tarrytown, New York, U.S.A., is one of the largest diagnostic businesses in
the world. The organization supports customers in 100 countries through an
extensive portfolio of laboratory testing, molecular testing and near patient
care diagnostics systems and services for use in the assessment and management
of health, including the areas of cardiovascular and kidney disease, oncology,
virology and women's health. Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics Division's global
headquarters in the United States operates as part of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a
member of the worldwide Bayer HealthCare group.
About Bayer HealthCare AG
Bayer HealthCare AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's
leading innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry.
In 2004, the Bayer HealthCare subgroup generated sales amounting to some
8.5 billion Euro. The company combines the global activities of the divisions
Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics
and Pharmaceuticals. Bayer HealthCare employed 35,300 people worldwide in
2004.
Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture innovative products
that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance
well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating disease.
Contact Information
Signet Company Contact Bayer Company Contact
Colleen Scott Susan Oelerking
Signet Laboratories, Inc. Bayer Diagnostics
180 Rustcraft Road 511 Benedict Avenue
Dedham, MA 02026 Tarrytown, NY 10591-5097
Phone: 781.915.1404 Phone: 914.366.1807
Fax: 781.461.2456 Fax: 914.366.1882
http://www.signetlabs.com http://www.bayerdiag.com
cscott@signetlabs.com
SOURCE Signet Laboratories, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.signetlabs.com
http://www.bayerdiag.com
CONTACT:
Colleen Scott of Signet Laboratories, Inc.,
+1-781-915-1404, cscott@signetlabs.com; or Susan Oelerking of
Bayer Diagnostics, +1-914-366-1807
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