September 05, 2008 05:00 AM Eastern Time 

Inverness Medical Launches Portable Blood Testing Monitor to Warn Patients and Their Physicians of Potential Blood Clots

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inverness Medical Physician Diagnostics Group, a division of Inverness Medical Innovations, today announced the launch of the INRatio^®2 PT/INR Monitoring System, a portable device that measures blood-clotting time, also known as prothrombin time, using one drop of blood from a patient’s finger. The INRatio2 is used by healthcare professionals and their patients in the management of warfarin, a blood-thinning drug, to monitor the effectiveness of the drug and warn of potential blood clots and other bleeding risks.

Warfarin, also sold under the brand name Coumadin^®, is prescribed to patients to prevent blood clots, heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis, and stroke. Warfarin is the second most common cause of emergency room visits related to adverse drug events, trailing only insulin. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that 2 million Americans start taking warfarin every year, and many will take the drug for the rest of their lives. Due to the serious bleeding risks associated with warfarin, the FDA has labeled it with a “black box” warning, informing consumers of the major and potentially fatal risks, and indicating that patients should have their PT/INR monitored regularly.

The INRatio2 PT/INR Monitoring System has been cleared by the FDA for warfarin patients to test themselves at home, offering patients quick access to their PT/INR results. The test results are then transmitted to their treating physician by telephone or internet. The results provide important data that helps physicians make informed warfarin dosing adjustments to ensure that patients stay within their recommended therapeutic range. Warfarin is known to be a difficult drug to manage due to the wide variance in each patient’s response to the drug, in addition to factors such as diet, age, illness, and interaction with other drugs. Research has demonstrated that more frequent PT/INR testing can help improve a patient’s time in therapeutic range.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of the INRatio2, as it exemplifies our continuing focus on patient-centered care, and the growing movement toward patient self-monitoring in the home,” said David Phillips, vice president of marketing for Inverness Medical’s coagulation division. “Due to Medicare’s expanded coverage of home INR monitoring for atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism earlier this year, the INRatio2 is now accessible to more patients who wish to monitor their own coagulation.”

The INRatio2 offers many patient-friendly features, including a one-minute test time, easy single button interface, and 200 test battery life. Its simple fingerstick test procedure, light weight (9.3 oz), and individually-sealed test strip packaging enables patients to easily test themselves at home or when traveling.

Available to patients by prescription and to healthcare professionals for in-office or laboratory testing, the INRatio2 was developed by HemoSense, a point-of-care diagnostics manufacturer acquired by Inverness Medical in November of 2007. For additional information on the INRatio2, please visit www.hemosense.com.

About Inverness Medical

By developing new capabilities in near-patient diagnosis, monitoring and health management, Inverness Medical Innovations enables individuals to take charge of improving their health and quality of life. A global leader in rapid point-of-care diagnostics, Inverness’ products, as well as its new product development efforts, focus on infectious disease, cardiology, oncology, drugs of abuse, and women’s health. Inverness is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. For additional information on Inverness Medical Innovations, please visit www.invernessmedical.com.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. of Princeton, N.J., is the manufacturer of Coumadin.