Vectra DA blood test may help predict patients' response to rheumatoid arthritis therapy

GCI HealthMay 25 2011

Data presented at EULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatology

Crescendo Bioscience- today announced data indicating that Vectra- DA, a first-in-class multi-biomarker blood test used to assess rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity, provides physicians with an objective measure which may help determine whether patients are responding to therapy. Additional studies show that the score from the Vectra DA algorithm has the potential to predict progressive joint damage and is robust in RA patients who have common comorbid conditions. Two additional studies confirmed Vectra DA algorithm's ability to quantify RA disease activity including the ability to discriminate between low disease activity and remission. These data were presented at the European League Against Rheumatism's (EULAR) Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in London, May 25 - 28, 2011. Additional studies of pipeline products were also presented, including work to develop a multi-biomarker test for risk of structural damage in RA.

"These data indicate that Vectra DA can provide physicians with a robust molecular monitoring system for RA disease activity," said Stephen Paget, M.D., Physician-in-Chief Emeritus, Hospital for Special Surgery. "Vectra DA may help physicians determine whether a patient is responding to therapy, perhaps as early as two weeks after initiating treatment, and whether additional intervention may be necessary."

RA is a debilitating, highly variable, chronic disease that often results in joint damage and disability. Vectra DA is the first multi-biomarker blood test to assess RA disease activity, integrating information from 12 key biomarkers with a proven association with RA disease activity into a single quantitative score.

"The underlying biology of RA can vary greatly among patients and often changes over time," said David Chernoff, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Crescendo Bioscience. "These data further validate Vectra DA's broad utility in providing physicians with quantitative information on RA disease activity and underlying biology. Vectra DA provides a tool to help personalize patient management."