Proteome Sciences ($PMSNF), in collaboration with the University of Geneva, has discovered and validated a protein in blood that has potential to lead to a simple blood test. This could increase the number of people who get the clot-busting drug rt-PA, a drug that is most effective when given within a few hours of a stroke. However, many people do not get the treatment because the time of the stroke is not known (if it happened during sleep, for example). Measuring the levels of blood protein biomarkers, including blood glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π), could fix the approximate time of the stroke, and such a test could be used even before patients arrive in the hospital, potentially increasing the number of people who are eligible for treatment fivefold. A Proteome Sciences spokesperson told FierceBiomarkers that the company has licensed development of the blood test to Randox Laboratories, and is also pursuing licensing deals with other diagnostics and pharmaceutical companies. According to the U.K.'s Daily Mail, the test could be available early next year. Article | Abstract
Editor's note: This story updated to clarify Proteome Sciences' and Randox Laboratories' role.