WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 1, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD), a company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, biomarker-based diagnostics, announced today the publication of a peer-reviewed review article on the High-Risk Plaque (HRP) Initiative in Current Atherosclerosis Reports. The publication, which appeared in the July 29, 2011 issue, is titled, "The High-Risk Plaque Initiative: Primary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events in the Asymptomatic Population," Falk E, Sillesen H, Muntendam P, Fuster V. DOI 10.1007/s11883-011-0193-0. The full article is available at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/a0710x052483m27v/fulltext.pdf.
The HRP Initiative is a multi-party research and development collaboration initiated by BG Medicine in 2006 to advance the understanding, recognition and management of asymptomatic individuals at risk for a near-term atherothrombotic event such as myocardial infarction or stroke.
"Acute thrombosis after rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque is responsible for the majority of heart attacks and many strokes," said Erling Falk, MD, Professor and Director, Cardiovascular Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark, and the lead author of this paper. "Although new treatment options have emerged in recent years for those at the highest risk of these devastating events, widespread clinical use will not become a reality until we have improved means to identify those at highest risk. The HRP initiative, through its lead study, the BioImage Study, has the potential to make important contributions towards this goal."
"Most medical innovation and advances over the past five decades have resulted from the development and introduction of new commercial products," said Pieter Muntendam, MD, President and CEO of BG Medicine. "The HRP Initiative and the BioImage Study represent a new model of collaboration, allying some of the most pre-eminent academic and clinical experts, payors such as Humana Inc. and the medical product industry. Collaborative models such as this align the interests and objectives of all parties and create opportunity and momentum for healthcare transformation in a way not possible by any one of the parties acting alone."
About BG Medicine, Inc.
BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD) is a life sciences company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel, biomarker-based diagnostics to improve patient outcomes and contain healthcare costs. The Company recently launched the BGM Galectin-3TM test for use in patients with heart failure, the first novel blood test for cardiac disease cleared by the U.S. F.D.A. in five years. BG Medicine also has products in development to aid in the diagnosis and management of acute atherothrombosis and lipid disorders. For additional information about BG Medicine, heart failure and galectin-3 testing, please visit www.bg-medicine.com and www.galectin-3.com.
The BG Medicine Inc. logo is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8765.
Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements made in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, in this news release address expectations regarding the potential contributions of results from the HRP's BioImage Study, expected benefits from the HRP Initiative and potential benefits from the multi-party collaboration. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.