The University of Hasselt and Inova Diagnostics have signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement and collaboration in research for technology developed by the University of Hasselt which represents a significant advance in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

VIB, the Flanders Research Institute Life Sciences, attended the University of Hasselt patenting AR markers and in negotiating licensing.

"Late diagnosis of RA can affect the quality of life of patients who are affected. New biomarkers can help to get better results to propose an appropriate treatment at an earlier stage of this debilitating disease. We believe that the markers identified by researchers in immunology world-class University of Hasselt, combined with expertise in assay development Inova Diagnostics, should improve the ability to accurately diagnose patients with RA who are negative with respect to existing markers,” said Michael Mahler, and vice president in charge of research and development at Inova Diagnostics.

Initial studies by the University of Hasselt have shown that these biomarkers are very promising for improving the diagnosis. Approximately one third of patients with RA are both negative serological markers mainly used in the diagnosis of RA: rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP). While CCP assays third generation (CCP CCP 3.0 and 3.1) have increased sensitivity to early disease, some patients remain seronegative RA.

The aim of the initial study conducted by the University of Hasselt was to identify additional antibody markers for AR-negative and early RA. All patients affected with early RA were positive for at least one of the 14 new autoantibodies and antibody positivity was associated with a shorter duration of disease (P = 0.0087). Fifty-two percent of RA patients whose tests were initially negative for RF and CCP to have tested positive for at least one of the 14 new autoantibodies, a 19 per cent increase in sensitivity over current serological tests. In addition, five new autoantibodies were detected more frequently in seronegative RA patients, indicating that these autoantibodies are new candidate markers for this subtype of rheumatoid arthritis.

"We are excited about the potential possessed by these new markers to identify early RA patients are seronegative with existing markers. We are pleased to partner with Inova Diagnostics, the world market leader in autoimmune diagnostics, and together we look forward to validate these markers in other groups of patients,” said Dr Veerle Somers, head of program biomarker research at the Institute of Biomedical Research (BIOMED) of Hasselt University.

"VIB was very happy to participate in discussions between the Hasselt University and Inova Diagnostics and see the complementarity that exists between the two parties, which is always the best foundation for a successful partnership," said Dr. Karine Clauwaert, senior director of business development at VIB.

Hasselt University is an innovative and dynamic university, an institution that provides a skilled workforce, research tailored to the local situation, services and appropriate technologies the region.

Inova Diagnostics, Inc. strives to improve the quality and efficiency of diagnostic tests in specialized areas such as autoimmunity, hemostasis market, care intensive and infectious diseases and a world leader in the development and marketing of systems and innovative diagnostic tests for autoimmune diseases that are used in clinical laboratories and hospitals worldwide.