Alere study shows benefits of home BNP testing

Alere has published data from a new study that shows the benefits of B-type natriuretic peptid (BNP) testing when monitoring heart failure patients.

A multicentre study called Habit, conducted in collaboration between Alere and the San Diego Healthcare System, has assessed the efficacy of the technique by measuring BNP levels among home-based heart failure patients over 60 days.

Tests using the Alere Heart Check System revealed that BNP levels fluctuated rapidly and frequently in response to changes in the patient's condition, with levels rising as symptoms became more severe.

It is thought that monitoring this factor could be used as a potentially useful new method of accurately assessing the status of patients.

Dr Alan Maisel of the San Diego Healthcare System said: "The results of the Habit study provide an important advancement in our knowledge about B-type natriuretic peptide in heart failure."

This comes in the same week that Alere announced the submission of an increased cash offer to acquire fellow life science company Axis-Shield.