Roche Diagnostics and SYN X Pharma Inc announced that SYN X has been granted a non-exclusive worldwide license under patent rights of Roche Diagnostics relating to the development, manufacture and marketing of immunoassays for point-of-care diagnostics that detect congestive heart failure (CHF) marker NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-hormone brain natriuretic peptide).

SYN X Pharma simultaneously granted a non-exclusive worldwide license to Roche Diagnostics under patent rights of SYN X relating to the development, manufacture and marketing of immunoassays that detect congestive heart failure (CHF) marker NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-hormone brain natriuretic peptide).

"This SYN X /ROCHE cross-licensing agreement unites the best technologies currently available in CHF diagnostics and provides a pathway which will facilitate our two great companies in leading the way toward providing a uniform standard for congestive heart failure testing" said Dr. George Jackowski, Chairman, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of SYN X Pharma Inc.

SYN X's soon to be launched rapid-format test for CHF, one of only two point-of-care products on the world market, is unique because it will combine two biomarkers, Cardiac Troponin I and NT-proBNP. The new Nexus Dx CHF product will offer substantial improvements over the existing BNP product, including stability at room temperature, and quicker results, and will enable health professionals to provide an enhanced level of care.

"Until now health professionals and their patients had only one option regarding point-of-care CHF diagnostics, BNP. The new Nexus Dx CHF product will not only offer them an alternate choice, it will offer them a better choice," said Rod Wilson, President and COO of SYN X.

The CHF test is part of a pipeline of Nexus Dx products being developed by SYN X, which includes point-of-care diagnostics for traumatic brain injury, type 1 diabetes and insulin resistance. SYN X has already achieved licensing agreements with Genzyme Corporation for its test for stroke and with Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson company) for its test for Alzheimer's disease.