Positive early data from the BRIDGE1 study, a three–year 1000+ patient study in bronchiectasis funded by the British Lung Foundation (BLF) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS), has been published in the latest edition of the European Respiratory Journal2 and demonstrates the potential for NEATstik®, a point–of–care test developed by Belfast–based ProAxsis Limited (www.proaxsis.com), to be used as a rapid primary monitoring tool for lung diseases.
The pan–EU study is exploring novel biomarkers to demonstrate what they can add to clinical practice. In the publication, the NEATstik® result has been correlated with the severity of lung disease, presence of bacterial infection and risk of future clinical worsening (exacerbations). Furthermore, NEATstik® was able to replicate the results of existing tests for chest infections in people with bronchiectasis within ten minutes, providing a rapid sample–to–result test that can potentially support appropriate usage of antibiotic therapy. The study, led by Professor James Chalmers, from the University of Dundee, concludes that using NEATstik® can assist clinicians in identifying lung disease patients with bacterial infections as well as those patients at highest risk of experiencing significant clinical worsening over the subsequent 12 months.
The promising data on the performance of NEATstik® is announced for the first time in this publication and is the subject of a separate joint announcement from the BLF and the University of Dundee (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/news).
Commenting on the publication, Dr David Ribeiro, CEO of ProAxsis, said:
“We’re delighted that NEATstik® has performed so effectively in this critically important study and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with this group of expert clinicians to maximise the availability of this novel test for centres caring for patients with chronic respiratory diseases.”
Any queries concerning NEATstik®, or any requests for support with measuring other active protease biomarkers using the Company’s proprietary ProteaseTag® technology, can be directed to info@proaxsis.com.
- The BRIDGE study – Bronchiectasis Research Involving Databases, Genomics and Endotyping to match the right treatment to the right patient.
- Shoemark et al (2019) ERJ
About ProAxsis Limited
ProAxsis is utilising its proprietary ProteaseTag® technology to develop a range of products for the measurement of active protease biomarkers of diseases. The company has already launched activity–based immunoassays for both neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3, as well as a rapid point–of–care test for neutrophil elastase (NEATstik®). ProteaseTags® provide a unique tool to identify and quantify active protease biomarkers and will assist in the clinical validation of new therapeutics.
ProAxsis is part of the NetScientific Group and is one of the Group’s core portfolio companies. The company is also supported by QUBIS, the commercialisation arm of Queens University Belfast.