Brisbane-based biotechnology company Agenix Limited and San Diego-based Biosite Incorporated, a research-based provider of novel, rapid medical diagnostics, announced that Agenix subsidiary, AGEN BioMedical, and Biosite have signed a license and supply agreement for D-dimer. Biosite intends to incorporate AGEN's 3B6 antibody, specific for D-dimer, into its Triage Profiler S.O.B. Panel, a potential diagnostic test intended to help physicians identify the cause of shortness of breath, a symptom common to congestive heart failure, heart attack and pulmonary embolism. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, AGEN will grant Biosite a license to D-dimer and supply the antibody for ongoing requirements. D-dimer is one of the smallest proteins arising directly from the body's natural mechanism to break down blood clots. Elevated levels of D-dimer in a patient's blood are indicative of abnormal rates of clotting. Published studies suggest the absence of circulating D-dimer can be useful in excluding the presence of pulmonary embolism, a blockage of an artery in the lungs.

"From AGEN's point of view, having our antibody on Biosite's leading-edge technology represents a significant benefit to patients and doctors worldwide. We believe this will add another clinically-important dimension to Biosite's already-impressive rapid diagnostic product range," said Gregg Mastroianni, AGEN Biomedical's vice president of Human Health. "This agreement further demonstrates AGEN's D-dimer intellectual property and in particular, the performance of the 3B6 antibody."

The Triage Profiler S.O.B. Panel is designed to measure the levels of five biomarkers simultaneously: BNP, D-dimer, myoglobin, CK-MB, and troponin I. The measurements will be performed in a one-step operation from whole blood on a portable meter that can be located at the point-of-care. The turnaround time is approximately 15 minutes, allowing measurements at multiple time-points if necessary. The test will extend Biosite's line of cardiovascular product offerings, which generated sales of approximately $111 million in the last four quarters."We believe the addition of D-dimer to the Triage Profiler S.O.B. Panel will extend the panel's utility for the exclusion of pulmonary embolism, a highly lethal condition," said Kim Blickenstaff, Biosite president and chief executive officer. "By combining multiple markers associated with different critical diseases, we believe the Triage Profiler S.O.B. Panel can play an important role in helping emergency department physicians make an accurate diagnosis."