BARCELONA, Spain, June 22,
2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Grifols (MCE: GRF, MCE: GRF.P and
NASDAQ: GRFS), a leading global producer of plasma-derived
medicines, and a leader in the development of innovative diagnostic
solutions, is expanding its Texas-based Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory
menu by launching therapeutic drug monitoring testing services.
As the standard of care changes towards individualized patient
care in diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, the
clinicians' demand for monitoring biologic drugs is growing.
TDMonitor assays measure levels of infliximab
(Remicade®, Inflectra®, Remsima®),
adalimumab (Humira®) and vedolizumab
(Entyvio®) and the anti-drug antibodies. Test results
support clinicians in making therapeutic decisions, improving
patient therapy strategy and reducing the risk of debilitating
disease progression.
TDMonitor assays were developed and validated by Grifols
CLIA-certified Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory in San Marcos,
Texas. Samples may be mailed to the laboratory from any country in
the world. Following the testing of a sample, a complete report,
which includes recommendations with references, is generated and
then submitted to the healthcare provider within 5-7 days.
In May 2017, Grifols presented
TDMonitor at Digestive Disease Week, a conference held in
Chicago, Illinois. More than
14,000 gastroenterology professionals attended this year to review
the newest technology innovations in gastroenterology.
Biologic therapy can result in varied responses in each patient.
Factors such as inflammation, other drug therapies, genetic
factors, disease phenotype, body mass, various immune responses and
the presence of anti-drug antibodies can influence responses,
making monitoring of drug levels critical to patient care. The
American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has published a
clinical decision support tool that indicates monitoring of
responsiveness to therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel
disease who do not remain in remission. See AGA Clinical Support
Tool. The AGA expects to publish a clinical practice
guideline on Therapeutic Monitoring in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
this summer. See AGA website.
"Grifols is driven to provide the healthcare community with
vital diagnostics to support treatments of numerous, and many
times, very rare, conditions. For more than 75 years, our company
has pioneered and advanced biologic therapies. Our commitment
remains strong, and this new blood testing service of biologic
treatments is a testament to it," said Grifols Diagnostic Division
President, Carsten Schroeder.
Grifols Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory plans to make available
additional assays for new therapies later this year and in
2018.
For more information visit: Grifols Clinical Testing
Services.
About Grifols Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory
Grifols
Diagnostics Division operates testing laboratories, located in
San Marcos, Texas. Focused on
Specialty Diagnostics and Immunohematology, the laboratories offer
high complexity testing in diverse disease areas to assist patient
care, and a broad catalogue of specialized assays to support
healthcare providers.
About Grifols
Grifols is a global healthcare company
with more than a 75-year legacy of improving people's health and
well-being through the development of protein therapies, hospital
pharmacy products and diagnostic technology for clinical use.
The company is present in more than 100 countries worldwide,
with headquarters located in Barcelona,
Spain. Grifols is a leader in plasma collection with a
network of more than 170 plasma donation centers in the U.S., and
is a leading producer of plasma-derived medicines. As a recognized
leader in transfusion medicine, Grifols offers a comprehensive
range of transfusion medicine, hemostasis, and immunoassay
solutions for clinical laboratories, blood banks, and transfusion
centers.
In 2016, sales exceeded 4,000 million
euros with approximately 15,000 employees. Grifols
demonstrates its commitment to advancing healthcare by allocating a
significant portion of its annual income to R&D.
The company's class A shares are listed on the Spanish Stock
Exchange, where they are part of the Ibex-35 (MCE: GRF). Its
non-voting class B shares are listed on the Mercado Continuo (MCE:
GRF.P) and on the U.S. NASDAQ via ADRs (NASDAQ: GRFS). For more
information visit Grifols official website at www.grifols.com.
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SOURCE Grifols