BG Medicine, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) to extend its current development and commercialization collaboration to include the development of a galectin-3 test for Abbott Point of Care’s i-STAT^® System. Galectin-3 is a novel biomarker that may play a role in detecting the development and progression of heart failure.

Under the agreement, Abbott will be responsible for the development of the test in accordance with certain plans and milestones, and BG Medicine and Abbott will collaborate in support of regulatory filings and studies to support the clinical utility of galectin-3 in the management of patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

“Heart failure is one of the most costly medical conditions. Despite important advances in diagnosis, there remain significant unmet needs in assessing patients with heart failure and selecting a course of action both in emergency room and non-acute care settings,” said Pieter Muntendam, M.D., President and CEO of BG Medicine. “This collaboration is an important step toward determining the exact role this test can play in assisting physicians in their efforts to improve outcomes and reduce cost of care.”

About the i-STAT System

The i-STAT System from Abbott Point of Care is at the forefront of patient-side point-of-care testing with the industry’s most comprehensive menu of tests in a single platform. The i-STAT System is an advanced, handheld, diagnostic tool that provides real-time lab-quality results within minutes to accelerate the patient care decision-making process. Lightweight, portable, and easy-to-use, the i-STAT System features single-use disposable test cartridges that can be used throughout the hospital to perform a broad menu of critical care tests, including cardiac markers, blood gases, chemistries and electrolytes, lactate, coagulation, and hematology. The i-STAT System is currently in use in one out of every three U.S. hospitals and more than 500 emergency departments. With more than 50,000 placements in high-acuity settings worldwide and 35 million test cartridges produced annually, the i-STAT System has a global impact on point-of-care testing at the bedside.

About BG Medicine

BG Medicine is a life sciences company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel diagnostics based on biomarkers to improve patient outcomes and contain healthcare costs.