IDH.L Regulatory News (IDH)

31 Jan 2007 07:02

Immunodiagnostic Systems Hldgs PLC31 January 2007 Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings plc US launch of BoneTRAP(R) for clinical use Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings plc ("IDS"), a leading producer of diagnostictesting kits for the clinical and research laboratory markets, announces thatits BoneTRAP Assay (TRACP 5b) is now available for clinical use in the US.Previously the test was only available for 'Research Use Only' in the US and wasused by large biotech and pharmaceutical clients. BoneTRAP tests for osteoclasts, bone cells that are responsible for bonedegradation. Osteoclasts dissolve the fatigued bone, and osteoblasts replace theweakened bone with viable new bone, a continuous metabolic process called "boneremodelling". As the result of disease or aging, the activity of osteoclastsmay accelerate, particularly in post-menopausal women, whilst the activity ofosteoblasts remains normal, leading to an imbalance in the bone remodelingprocess. This imbalance is symptomatic of diseases such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia,renal osteodystrophy, metastatic cancer of bone and multiple myeloma, andtherefore BoneTRAP tests can play a major role in the diagnosis and treatment ofsuch diseases. Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterised by low bone mass anddegradation of bone microarchitecture, leading to bone fragility and increasedsusceptibility to fractures. According to the US National OsteoporosisFoundation, more than 44 million people in the US either have osteoporosis orhave risk factors for osteoporosis. More than 1.5 million osteoporosis-relatedfractures occur annually in the US with national direct care costs for fracturesbeing $18 billion per year in 2002, and costs are increasing. Dr Roger Duggan, Managing Director of IDS, said: "The tests availability for In Vitro Diagnostic use in humans opens up the muchlarger clinical market in the US, for which re-imbursement is available tophysicians calling for the test to be performed. This will significantly liftsales of BoneTRAP in the biggest single global IVD market." The TRACP 5b immunoassay was developed by SBA Sciences of Oulu, Finland, acompany acquired by IDS in February 2005. TRAP 5b technology is patentprotected, and has been cited in more than 100 scientific publications.Preclinical versions of the test, RatTRAP(TM) and MouseTRAP(TM) kits, willcontinue to be used in large volumes by pharmaceutical and contract researchorganisations in drug development and validation. Enquiries: Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings plc Parkgreen Communications Ltd Dr. Roger Duggan, Managing Director Paul McManus Tel: 0191 519 0660 Tel: 020 7851 7480 www.idsltd.com Mob: 07980 541 893 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange