WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 6, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD), a life sciences company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, biomarker-based diagnostics, announced today that it will participate in a virtual cardiology congress via CardiocareLive produced by PlatformQ. The interactive webcast will feature Pieter Muntendam, MD, President and CEO of BG Medicine, who will provide an overview of the role of galectin-3 in the development and progression of heart failure. Dr. Muntendam has led the research and development efforts to identify the role of galectin-3 in cardiac disease from its original preclinical studies through its current clinical use in the FDA-cleared BGM Galectin-3TM test for use in patients with heart failure. The title of the webcast is "Finding the Disease in Heart Failure – Role of Galectin-3 in Heart Failure Development and Progression." The webcast will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2011, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
To participate in this interactive webcast, please visit the following link on December 8, 2011: http://www.cardiocarelive.com/en_CA/br/BGMedicine.
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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