Abbott/BG heart failure Dx gains CE mark

Abbott won a CE mark for a new diagnostic used on its Architect analyzers.--Courtesy of Abbott

Abbott's ($ABT) latest rollout of a new blood test involves a new CE marking for a diagnostic system to assess chronic heart failure patients.

The company teamed with BG Medicine ($BGMD) to develop the Architect Galectin-3 assay. BG developed the test, which runs on Abbott's Architect technology platform. It's designed to determine which heart failure patients are at risk of getting worse, and to do so early in their disease. That could give providers a new healthcare tool that both boosts care and potentially saves money. If doctors know patients are at risk for worsening heart failure, then they can change/alter/boost treatments before health worsens and use hospital readmissions for maximum benefit. High galectin-3 levels often signify a more aggressive heart failure, BG notes.

Abbott is working hard to expand its diagnostics business. In late March, the company took a step in that direction, with FDA approval for a molecular diagnostic designed to detect both testicular cancer and prenatal problems.

Waltham, MA-based BG, meanwhile, said it welcomed Abbott's CE mark, but noted it is also partnering with other diagnostic instrument makers to commercialize automated versions of its galectin-3 test, including Alere, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and bioMérieux SA.

- read the Abbott release
- here's BG's announcement