Abbott Laboratories Announces Agreement with Wyeth to Develop an Automated Test to Monitor Transplant Drug
09 Dicembre 2003 - 8:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Abbott Laboratories Announces Agreement with Wyeth to Develop an
Automated Test to Monitor Transplant Drug - Test Will Be Developed
to Monitor the Dosing Of Rapamune(R) (Sirolimus), Wyeth's
Immunosuppressant Agent for Kidney Transplant Patients - ABBOTT
PARK, Ill., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott Laboratories
today announced a collaboration and license agreement with Wyeth to
develop an automated blood test to monitor therapeutic levels of
the anti-rejection drug Rapamune(R) (sirolimus). Under the
agreement, Abbott and Wyeth, a global pharmaceutical company based
in Madison, N.J., will jointly develop a sirolimus test for use on
Abbott's IMx(R) and other automated immunoassay systems. Abbott's
automated diagnostic analyzers are widely used in hospital
laboratories throughout the world. Following appropriate regulatory
clearances, Abbott's manufacturing partner Axis-Shield plc, based
in Dundee, Scotland, will manufacture the test and Abbott will
distribute it worldwide. "Our agreement with Wyeth builds upon our
leadership position in transplant diagnostics and reinforces our
commitment to improve the medical outcome for patients who have
undergone kidney transplants," said William Brown, Ph.D., vice
president, diagnostic assays and systems development, Abbott
Laboratories. In addition to the sirolimus test, which Abbott hopes
to be available in late 2004, the company also provides tests to
monitor the immunosuppressant drugs cyclosporine and tacrolimus. To
help reduce the risk of organ rejection, transplant patients are
given a lifelong regimen of immunosuppressant agents. These drugs
are intended to lower the body's normal immune response, allowing
the transplanted organ to remain functional. Rapamune is
recommended for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult
patients at low to moderate immunological risk receiving a renal
transplant. It is recommended that Rapamune be used initially in
combination with cyclosporine microemulsion and corticosteroids for
2 to 3 months. In patients at low to moderate immunologic risk,
cyclosporine should be withdrawn 2 to 4 months after
transplantation and Rapamune dose should be increased to reach
recommended blood concentrations. Increased susceptibility to
infection and the possible development of lymphoma may result from
immunosuppression. Only physicians experienced in immunosuppressive
therapy and management of renal transplant patients should use
Rapamune. Patients receiving the drug should be managed in
facilities equipped and staffed with adequate laboratory and
supportive medical resources. The physician responsible for
maintenance therapy should have complete information requisite for
the follow-up of the patient. Complete prescribing information for
Rapamune is available at http://www.rapamune.com/ . Axis-Shield is
a global manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic kits with a focus on
new markers in cardiovascular, rheumatoid, infectious and alcohol-
related diseases, diabetes, dementia and near patient testing to
facilitate improved patient management. Axis-Shield has partnered
with Abbott to introduce several new tests on both the IMx(R) and
AxSYM(R) systems, Abbott's market-leading automated immunoassay
analyzers. Abbott Laboratories is a global, broad-based health care
company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and
marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, and medical products,
including devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than
70,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the
company's Web site at http://www.abbott.com/ . DATASOURCE: Abbott
Laboratories CONTACT: Media, Don Braakman, +1-847-937-1237, or
Financial Community, Christy Wistar, +1-847-938-4475, both of
Abbott Laboratories Web site: http://www.abbott.com/
http://www.rapamune.com/ Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110328.html
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