World IVD Cardiac Marker Tests Set to Top $4.5 Billion by 2010

New York, November 3, 2006 — With the global incidence of cardiovascular disease remaining the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, ferreting out the subtle indicators of impending incidence through in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) has become a more than $2.7 billion business.

According to Cardiac Markers, the latest market research from Kalorama Information, the world market for cardiac IVDs will grow to more than $4.5 billion by 2010, riding on the heels of new advances in testing, including recently discovered genetic factors. In fact, tests, including inflammation and homocysteine markers that only a few years ago were relatively rare, are now considered part of the standard cardiac marker segment.

Overall growth in IVD cardiac marker tests will derive from new markers, such as ultra
sensitive CRP, plasminogen activator inhibitors, s100 protein, p-selectin,
soluble fibrin, glycogen phosphorylase-BB, and thrombus precursor protein, among others.

Yet the impact of these emerging markers and tests will be most notably seen in western markets, with the U.S. currently accounting for 45% of the market, Europe 27%, and Japan 13%. Cost, availability, and technological resources still make such tests relatively prohibitive in the rest of the world.

“The technological advances taking place in this market are nothing short of phenomenal,” notes Shara Rosen, Kalorama Information's Senior Diagnostics Industry Analyst. “Yet as is often the case, the technology is far ahead of both healthcare regulations and reimbursement plans. The onus is therefore on the manufacturers to prove that these tests are not only effective, but also supply a cost effective treatment alternative that is not already an accepted part of current regulations and plans.”

The study examines tests and technologies that are currently available and those that are expected to take their place in the near future, including POC testing at home, coagulation factors/D-dimer, pharmacodynamic testing, the role of in vivo and imaging test modalities, and more.

Cardiac Markers also provides in-depth coverage of market competitors and innovators, the market environment, and trends affecting future growth. It can be purchased directly from Kalorama Information by clicking http://www.kaloramainformation.com/pub/1316343.html. It is also available at MarketResearch.com.

About Kalorama Information
Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent market research for the life sciences. For more information, contact Tom Ehart at 240-747-3014 or tehart@marketresearch.com, or visit www.KaloramaInformation.com.