Vermillion posts positive study on peripheral artery disease

Austin, TX-based molecular diagnostics company Vermillion released results from a study of its Vasclir blood test, which is designed to detect signs of peripheral artery disease (PAD). The test measured levels of three PAD biomarkers: beta 2 Microglobulin, cystatin C and hsCRP.

The study, which included about 1,000 high-risk patients--smokers, elderly persons over age 70 and diabetics over age 50 are all considered high-risk--found higher levels of the three biomarkers in individuals with PAD. Vermillion plans to continue honing the tested panel for optimum results.

"The next steps include optimizing the panel composition as well as additional analyses comparing the panel with the American Heart Association (AHA) cardiovascular risk score," said Gail S. Page, Chief Executive Officer of Vermillion. "The results of this study put us one step closer to developing a simple to use, blood based test to aid physicians in the diagnosis of PAD, a large and growing market."

- check out the Vermillion release