Arthritis Treatment and Cure

Mark Smith - 14 Aug 2010

Shares in Axis-Shield climbed more than 4% yesterday after the Scottish-Norwegian maker of medical diagnostic kits said its early detection test for rheumatoid arthritis had been given formal approval by US and European expert groups.

The Dundee and Oslo-headquartered firm said it welcomed the publication of new classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis in the September edition of the Arthritis and Rheumatism journal, in which its anti-CCP test was validated by the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism.

Axis-Shield has said its test for antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides, or anti-CCP, – one of the cornerstones of the group’s technology – was widely regarded by experts as the most significant recent development in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

The test has the potential to alleviate the suffering of millions of people and is considered more accurate than rival early-diagnostic tests for the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs in about one in 100 people, is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation of the lining of the joints, causing pain and disability. Axis-Shield’s test can detect the disease before it becomes debilitating.

The disease often begins in middle ages and is particularly prevalent in older people, although it can also develop in children and young adults.

Shares in Axis Shield yesterday rose 4.1%, or 10.75p, to 275.5p after announcing the news to the City.

The company said the new classification criteria set for rheumatoid arthritis follows recommendations at the American College of Rheumatology Congress in 2009, and will allow clinicians to focus on the important need for earlier diagnosis and more effective early therapeutic intervention.

Ian Gilham, Axis-Shield’s chief executive, said: “Anti-CCP is a key marker for Axis-Shield’s laboratory division and this inclusion reinforces the importance of protecting our intellectual property on anti- CCP testing.”

Axis-Shield, which employs 120 of its 500 staff at its Scottish laboratory division, was formed in 1999 through the merger of Dundee-based Shield Diagnostics and Axis.
source: www.heraldscotland.com