RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Inc.
(Nasdaq: CVDI) today announced that it has successfully completed proving
feasibility for a new dry chemistry test to evaluate the effect of a
therapeutic anticoagulant ("TA") currently in Phase II clinical trials at Eli
Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) ("Lilly") for the treatment of sepsis.  This
successful outcome represents a significant scientific milestone for CVDI and
demonstrates the flexibility of the Company's Thrombolytic Assessment System
(TAS(TM)) technology to produce a rapid diagnostic test in a dry chemistry
format.
    Sepsis is a condition caused by pathogens circulating in the blood that
can result in serious complications such as organ failure.  With a 30% to 50%
mortality rate, sepsis is the 13th most frequent cause of death in the United
States, and the intensive management of affected patients is estimated to cost
the U.S. healthcare system in excess of $5 billion to $10 billion per year.
    The milestone goal for CVDI was to reduce to the Company's dry chemistry
format the existing laboratory test which it had previously developed in a wet
chemistry format.  The advantage of a dry chemistry test is its ease of use
and ability to provide a much more rapid test result.  Lilly's TA will be used
in those critical care areas of the hospital which require rapid turnaround of
diagnostic results to improve patient care and turnover.  Successful
demonstration of CVDI's technology concluded with a parallel analysis by CVDI
and Lilly of standard curves of the analyte constructed in a base of diluted,
pooled, normal human plasma.  As expected, the dry chemistry format of the
test card duplicated the characteristics and low variability defined by the
wet chemistry format, thereby proving feasibility.
    The second scientific milestone of the project will involve further
testing of patient samples in order to define the test parameters.  As a
result, CVDI expects that they may have to adjust their dry chemistry
formulation to compensate for any potential interferences.
    Proving feasibility and demonstrating the ability of the test to evaluate
the levels of this sepsis marker in the targeted patient population are the
critical milestones in developing a dry chemistry, rapid diagnostic test.
This ongoing collaboration with Lilly is part of CVDI's corporate strategy to
provide rapid diagnostic tests for new developmental drugs with narrow
therapeutic windows.
    Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets
systems designed to deliver rapidly and accurately, blood test results at the
point-of-care ("POC"). CVDI's novel technology platform has allowed the
Company to develop a menu of diagnostic tests, including new specialty tests.
The Company believes that its Thrombolytic Assessment System ("TAS")
technology is the only POC system capable of monitoring both the formation and
dissolution of blood clots -- a critical factor in treating heart attacks,
strokes and a variety of other medical conditions.

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    This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future
events and the future performance of Cardiovascular Diagnostics that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  Information
concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from
those in the forward-looking statements is contained in the Company's SEC
filings, including Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports.

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