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News Release from: Frost and Sullivan | Subject: B121
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 26 September 2002
European cardiac risk assessment markers
Elevated European CHF mortality rates and introduction of premium-priced assays stimulate uptake of cardiac risk assessment markers, according to new research
Following a year of unprecedented growth, the European market for cardiac risk assessment markers amassed revenues worth $24 million in 2001 This tremendous pace of market expansion is underpinned by the long-term measures required to tackle the escalating prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) caused by the rising proportion of Europe's ageing population
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 2 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Consequently, aggressive international action is being implemented to curb the high levels of mortality and morbidity rates caused by heart disease.
Latest findings by Frost and Sullivan, the international marketing consulting company, reveal that the widespread adoption of expensive natriuretic peptide (NP)-based assays is largely responsible for expanding interest in cardiac risk assessment markets.
Moreover, the ascendancy of troponin as an earlier cardiac marker is acting to raise awareness of new risk markers, already enjoying recognition among newly-qualified cardiologists.
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The employment of risk markers in therapy monitoring also represents a distinct possibility in the future.
Given that some of the novel cardiac risk assessment markers have only been launched over the last two years, the overall market remains very much at the introductory stage of its product life cycle.
Although the clinical utility of some of these tests has yet to be fully established, the long-term benefits of improved patient management will help yield greater revenue growth in the near future.
Conventional tests such as the echocardiogram, however, will remain crucial tools due to their superior diagnostic capacities.
In contrast, novel tests are expected to be used in conjunction with the more traditional methods of risk assessment, and generally, not as independent, stand-alone tests.
Underlying the whole cardiac risk concept is the aim of improving patient management, the study emphasises.
The advantages of using novel markers include their enhanced sensitivity compared to some of the current procedures.
The benefits associated with the new risk marker tests substantially outweigh the time and monetary investment required to perform a traditional echocardiogram-based CHF check-up.
As hospitals wake up to the realisation of the actual scope of the technology's advantages, the widespread consumption of novel marker tests, such as NP tests, is expected to fuel market development over the rest of the forecast period.
Due to the nascency of the markets for high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP), homocysteine (Hcy) and NP-based tests, the pace of competition remains slow.
"For example, both the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and pro-BNP markets are currently comprised of only one company each, namely Biosite and Roche Diagnostics respectively.
As a result, the test prices are expected to remain at elevated levels until further competition arrives, offering tests at lower costs," the report comments.
However, penetration of the potentially lucrative cardiac risk market will prove extremely difficult for prospective entrants due to the current situation concerning patents.
This is illustrated by the low number of competitors, and consequently, the high test prices which currently characterise this young market.
In 2001, the three spearheading companies in the overall cardiac risk market were Abbott Diagnostics, Dade Behring and Beckman Coulter.
In terms of revenue, Germany represents the largest market for cardiac risk assessment markers in Europe, followed by France and Italy.
Code: B121, publication date: September 2002, Price: ?5000.
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