ACAAI/AAAAI publish position statement in support of ATS guideline on Aerocrine's FeNO test

Apr 2 2012

Aerocrine AB (OMX Nordic Exchange: AERO) announces that a nine-member council representing both prestigious asthma societies, the American Academy and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI and AAAAI), have published a position statement in support of the clinical practice guideline on Aerocrine's FeNO test as published by the ATS.

The ATS guideline on the Interpretation of Exhaled Nitric Oxide for Clinical Applications has now received formal recognition and support from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). The endorsement by the ACAAI and AAAAI underscores the importance of measuring FeNO to assess airway inflammation in order to determine appropriate treatment for asthma patients. The ATS guideline, which was published in September 2011, defines clinical situations where FeNO testing is appropriate as well as guidelines for the interpretation of FeNO results. The ATS guideline, now also endorsed by the AAAAI and ACAAI, notes that FeNO testing provides valuable information to the physician that traditional clinical tools cannot provide.

"We are pleased that all 3 societies have come forward in support of FeNO. It provides another level of credibility to the clinical utility and cost effectiveness of the NIOX MINO® and our ability to help clinicians make more informed decisions," said Scott Myers, CEO, Aerocrine.

"Several private insurance companies wanted all three societies to support these guidelines so this statement by ACAAI and AAAAI will now provide the proof that clinicians see the value and want to use our test. This statement of support will also resonate with physicians outside the US who look to other countries for guidelines and data to improve the way they practice medicine. We are pleased that all three societies support us in helping more physicians and patients", continues Scott Myers, CEO, Aerocrine.

Asthma is a complex disease and its cost burden to society on an annual basis is over $50B in the U.S. alone. There is no cure for asthma, current therapy is focused on controlling the disease. Aerocrine's NIOX MINO® FeNO monitor can help physicians identify patients who will be responsive to treatment with anti-inflammatory medications such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and alert them to patients who are not adhering to their treatments. Now all of the major US respiratory societies recognize the importance of FeNO testing in managing asthma.

"FeNO measurements enable physicians to gain a perspective of underlying airway inflammation not otherwise possible using the traditional clinical tools of history, physical exam, lungfunction, and quality of life assessments. This represents a giant step along the road to improving the quality of care people with asthma receive", said Peter Boggs, MD, FACAAI, a member of the joint ACAAI/AAAAI committee.

"The Joint Position Statement along with the ATS Guideline is exactly what we need to capitalize on payor coverage. It's really quite simple - if airway inflammation defines asthma and if airway inflammation isn't being measured, then how can a patient be optimally treated? Physicians don't manage hypertension treatment without measuring blood pressure. Why then should asthma be managed without measuring airway inflammation?" said Kathy Hodgdon, US Director of Sales and Marketing, Aerocrine.