Randox Laboratories has gained access to Proteome Sciences' portfolio of stroke biomarkers, under a non-exclusive license agreement.

Proteome Sciences has discovered portfolio of patented plasma biomarkers of stroke and other brain damage-related disorders in collaboration with the Biomedical Proteomics Research Group at the University of Geneva (BPRG).

The markers are elevated in blood of patients undergoing both haemorrhagic and ischaemic strokes and provide the potential to identify those patients that would most benefit from thrombolytic treatment within the first 3 hours after onset of symptoms.

Under the agreement, Randox will develop products for early diagnosis of stroke and subsequent monitoring of treatment outcomes.

University of Geneva Biomedical proteomics research group director Jean-Charles Sanchez said the researchers have recently studied the potential impact of using just one of these markers, GST-Pi, and found it could increase the number of treated stroke patients five-fold.

Randox managing director Peter FitzGerald said the company’s ability to deliver the biomarkers to healthcare providers using its Biochip Array systems will enable stratification of patients for appropriate treatment and contribute to a reduction in healthcare costs.