BG Medicine Announces Late-Breaker Oral Presentation of New Data on the BGM Galectin-3(R) Test in Heart Failure
WALTHAM, Mass., May 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD) today announced the presentation of new clinical research data on the BGM Galectin-3® test in heart disease at the 2013 European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Congress (ESC-HF) in Lisbon, Portugal. Among the highlights was a late-breaking oral presentation of results from the Aldo-DHF Biomarker Substudy which demonstrated the usefulness of galectin-3 testing for assessing functional capacity and clinical prognosis in patients diagnosed with a form of heart failure known as Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF).i Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction is the fastest growing type of clinical heart failure in the United States and Europe, disproportionately affecting women and accounting for one-third to one-half of all hospital admissions for heart failure.ii
The Aldo-DHF study findings were presented by Dr. Frank Edelmann of the Department of Cardiology and Pneumology and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research at the University of Göttingen. The title of Dr. Edelmann's late-breaking special sessions oral presentation was Galectin-3 Reflects Functional Capacity and Clinical Outcome in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (The Aldo-DHF Biomarker Substudy.)
"Galectin-3 has the potential to be a valuable test in clinical risk stratification for heart failure patients. In this study of 422 patients with diagnosed HFpEF, elevated galectin-3 levels, and particularly changes in galectin-3 over time, were statistically predictive of subsequent hospitalizations and mortality," commented Dr. Edelmann.
"The data presented at ESC-HF further demonstrate that galectin-3 may be an important determinant of heart failure risk across the clinical spectrum of disease," stated Paul Sohmer, President and CEO of BG Medicine. "Unplanned hospitalizations of patients with heart failure are a major cost burden on healthcare systems, particularly among patients with a diagnosis of HFpEF, one of the fastest growing but most difficult types of heart failure to identify and treat. The data presented at ESC-HF suggest that galectin-3 testing may help to identify HFpEF patients who are at risk of near-term adverse events."
In addition to the presentation of the Aldo-DHF Biomarker Substudy, other research on galectin-3 in heart disease presented at the ESC-HF meeting included:
- Reduction in 30 Day Death and Heart Failure Rehospitalization with Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists: An Analysis from the COACH Study, A. Maisel (San Diego, US), et. al.
- Late-breaking Research Abstract Presentation
- Galectin-3 in Heart Failure with Preserved Versus Reduced Ejection Fraction, R. Santhanakrishnan (Singapore), et al.
- Abstract P-1737
- Elevated Plasma Galectin-3 Levels Correlate with Echocardiographic Parameters of Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Stable Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), B. Munoz Calvo (Alcalá de Henares, Spain), et al.
- Abstract P-1301
- Galectin-3, Soluble ST-2 Protein and Echocardiographic Parameters in Clinically Stable Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients, C.A. Wojciechowska (Zabrze, Poland), et al.
- Abstract P-595
In addition to the presentations of original research, two conference satellite symposia were also held at ESC-HF: "Biomarker-guided Therapy in Heart Failure– Role of Galectin-3", and "Reducing Hospital Readmissions for Heart Failure– Can Galectin-3 Help?"
About BGM Galectin-3 Testing
Galectin-3 has been implicated in a variety of biological processes important in the development and progression of heart failure. Higher levels of galectin-3 are associated with a more aggressive form of heart failure, which may make identification of high-risk patients using galectin-3 testing an important part of patient care. Galectin-3 testing may be useful in helping physicians determine which patients are at higher risk of death or hospitalization, including 30-day readmission. www.galectin-3.com
About BG Medicine, Inc.
BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD) is a diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular tests to address significant unmet medical needs, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. For additional information about BG Medicine, heart failure and galectin-3 testing, please visit www.bg-medicine.com and www.galectin-3.com.
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Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release address our belief in the usefulness of galectin-3 testing for assessing functional capacity and clinical prognosis in patients diagnosed with HFpEF; our belief that HFpEF is the fast growing type of clinical heart failure in the United States and Europe and one of the most difficult types of heart failure to identify and treat; our belief in the usefulness of galectin-3 testing in helping physicians identify which patients are at higher risk of death, hospitalization or readmission; our belief in the ability of elevated galectin-3 levels and changes in galectin-3 over time to predict subsequent hospitalization and mortality; our belief that galectin-3 testing can help clinicians customize treatment to improve patient management for HFpEF patients; our belief that identification of high-risk patients using galectin-3 testing may become an important part of patient care; our belief that unplanned hospitalizations of patients with heart failure are a major cost burden on healthcare systems, particularly among HFpEF patients; and our belief in the importance of repeated testing of galectin-3 for monitoring disease progression and risk stratification. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
i Fonarow GC, Stough WG, et al. Characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with preserved systolic function hospitalized for heart failure: a report from the OPTIMIZE-HF Registry. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007 Aug 21;50(8):768-77.
ii Gurwitz JH, Magid DJ, et al. Contemporary prevalence and correlates of incident heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Am J Med. 2013 May;126(5):393-400.
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