AXIS-SHIELD ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF FIRST ASSAY UNDER AXSYM® XTRA PROGRAMME – PART OF PROJECT TO EXPAND AXSYM’S BROAD TEST MENU

Axis-Shield, the international in vitro diagnostics company, today announces the launch of a test for D-dimer to run on the widely-placed AxSYM® automated immunoassay system marketed by Abbott Laboratories.

D-dimer is an important blood coagulation marker which is raised in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). These are serious and relatively common clotting conditions that contribute to patient morbidity and mortality, with substantial costs to healthcare systems in the developed world, where the incidence is around 1:1000. The AxSYM® D-dimer test has a negative predictive value greater than 98%, giving it high utility in ruling out DVT and PE.

Under the terms of the previously-announced AxSYM® xtra arrangement with Abbott, Axis-Shield has exclusive rights to develop and manufacture 12 new diagnostic assays for the versatile AxSYM® platform. These test kits will be distributed globally by Abbott under the Axis-Shield label and will include several Axis-Shield proprietary markers as well as high volume tests not currently on the AxSYM® test menu.

Svein Lien, Axis-Shield CEO, commented: “We look forward to launching a number of new high volume tests on the AxSYM® system, which is recognised around the world as a leading platform in automated diagnostics. D-dimer is an excellent first marker which is widely used in a critical area of medicine and should provide us with a significant future revenue stream."

Because of its reliability, accuracy and ease-of-use, AxSYM® has gained strong acceptance in hospitals and clinical laboratories throughout the world since its introduction in 1994. Each day, around a million test results are reported worldwide using AxSYM® instruments. The system combines a broad menu of tests with continuous access, random access, and STAT testing capabilities.