CardiNor AS, a newly established Norwegian biotech company has received an initial USD 0,75 million to start development of an IVD for the neuropeptide Secretoneurin (SN).

This neuropeptide is creating a great deal of interest as the potential missing link in  assessment and management of the 30 million patients having arrythmia. The new company’s management, together with the scientific team from Akerhus University Hospital in Oslo, bring valuable experience gained in developing both these tests and another key test, homocysteine, to the Secretoneurin program.

Publications by leading cardiac experts have shown that elevated levels of Secretoneurin (SN) in blood increase risk of cardiovascular (CVD) mortality. According to CardiNor CEO Dag Christiansen this is welcome news because the current test regime lacks the desired sensitivity and specificity for proper patient selection for cardiac rhythm management: “It is known that 70% of the patients who have an (ICD) implantable cardioverter-defibrillator do not need the device. This results in both unnecessary patient stress and device costs in the EU of USD 10 billion. By developing a simple blood-based  Secretoneurin test, we believe we can dramatically change this situation and provide the missing link in CV risk assessment.”

A US patent covering the commercial use of SN in CVD has been granted and an EU patent is pending. Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. It is estimated that some 42 million people with have heart failure by 2018. Currently  the cost to US society alone is more than USD 31 billion.