WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD), a company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, biomarker-based diagnostics, announced today that results from several studies utilizing its BGM Galectin-3™ test will be presented at the upcoming European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2011, to be held in Paris, France, August 27-31, 2011. The presentations will address four important topics related to galectin-3-mediated cardiac disease: (1) the role of galectin-3 in predicting patients' response to heart failure therapy for select drug classes; (2) the ability of galectin-3 to identify individuals at risk for cardiovascular events prior to their first diagnosis of heart failure; (3) the mechanism and role of galectin-3 in heart failure development; and (4) the opportunity to block galectin-3 using natural carbohydrate compounds and their effects on heart failure development.
"When we initiated the development of a galectin-3 diagnostic test, we postulated that galectin-3 could be responsible for a common and important form of cardiac disease that often leads to heart failure. If proven, we expected that patients with galectin-3-mediated heart failure may respond differently to certain drugs, they may be identified before heart failure is first clinically diagnosed, and the built-in "on-off switch" on the galectin-3 protein could be manipulated to block its activity," commented Pieter Muntendam, MD, President and CEO of BG Medicine. "It is exciting to see that the galectin-3 data support our expectations and that these new data will be presented at the ESC meeting."
In order to provide access to this important information, BG Medicine will also host an interactive webinar, "Role of Galectin-3 in Therapeutic and Cardiovascular Outcomes – Results from Leading Studies Presented at the European Society of Cardiology Annual Meeting," on August 30, 2011, at 12:00 p.m. EDT (18:00 CEST) via Cardiocare Live, a virtual cardiology congress, presented by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and produced by PlatformQ. The interactive format provides an opportunity for participants to learn more and interact directly with the researchers who have conducted these studies. The faculty will feature Bertram Pitt, MD, FACC, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology; Lars Gullestad, MD, PhD, Professor in Cardiology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Department of Cardiology; and Rudolf De Boer, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen. Pieter Muntendam, MD, President and CEO of BG Medicine will moderate the session. The program is sponsored by Abbott, Alere, Inc., bioMérieux and Siemens. Further details regarding the webinar will be announced closer to the date.
Details for the four ESC presentations described above are provided below:
(1) Title: "Galectin-3 predicts mortality and response to statin therapy in chronic heart failure"
Presented by: Lars Gullestad MD, PhD
Time: Sunday, August 28, 14:00 – 18:00 CEST (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT)
Program Title and Location: Poster Session 2: Heart Failure – Left ventricular dysfunction; Posters – Poster Zone C
(2) Title: "Galectin-3, cardiovascular risk factors, and outcome in the general population"
Author: RA de Boer
Time: Tuesday, August 30, 15:30 – 16:30 CEST (9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EDT)
Program Title and Location: Global cardiovascular risk and burden; Moderated Posters – Poster Zone C
(3) Title: "Genetic disruption of galectin-3 prevents adverse cardiac remodeling"
Author: L Yu
Time: Wednesday, August 31, 08:30 – 12:30 CEST (2:30 a.m. – 6:30 a.m. EDT)
Program Title and Location: Poster Session 7: Heart Failure – Left ventricular dysfunction; Posters – Poster Zone C
(4) Title: "Pharmacological inhibition of galectin-3 attenuates adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure"
Author: L Yu
Time: Wednesday, August 31, 08:30 – 12:30 CEST (2:30 a.m. – 6:30 a.m. EDT)
Program Title and Location: Poster Session 7: Heart Failure – Left ventricular dysfunction: Posters – Poster Zone C
About Galectin-3 and Heart Failure
Galectin-3 is a unique carbohydrate-binding lectin, or protein, that binds to carbohydrates called beta-galactosides. Galectin-3 has been implicated in a variety of biological processes important in the development and progression of heart failure, and is believed to be a primary mediator of progressive cardiac fibrosis (abnormal thickening and stiffening of the heart muscle) and adverse remodeling (changes in the structure of the heart). Higher levels of galectin-3 are associated with a more aggressive form of heart failure and 30% or more of mild to moderate heart failure patients will have elevated levels of galectin-3. Heart failure affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans, with approximately 670,000 new cases occurring each year. The direct and indirect cost of heart failure in the United States for 2010 is estimated to be $39.2 billion.
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.
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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, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release address our expectations concerning the role that galectin-3 plays in heart failure, our expectations regarding the importance of the galectin-3 data to be presented at ESC, and the impact of the galectin-3 data on the sales and marketing of our galectin-3 diagnostic tests. 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.