In June 2009, Hansa Medical and Axis-Shield entered a development and licensing agreement regarding HMD-301, Hansa Medicals’ patented method for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) of severe sepsis, based on plasma quantification of the protein HBP. The HBP assay under development has the potential to shorten the delay of treatment and save patients from developing severe sepsis.

“The option agreement between Axis-Shield and Bio-Rad verifies the potential of this exciting new product candidate as well as strengthens the possibility to reach the global market” says Emanuel Björne, CEO at Hansa Medical AB  

Severe sepsis is a life-threatening complication to infection, characterized by organ failure and hypotension and it requires immediate medical attention and treatment. In sepsis, bacteria from a local infection, often pneumonia or urinary tract infections, enter the blood stream and cause a systemic inflammatory state. Severe sepsis is often lethal and in the US, more than 200,000 people die from severe sepsis every year However, for every hour that severe sepsis onset is anticipated with proper treatment, the survival rate increases by 7.5 percent.

Hansa Medical is entitled to royalties from Axis-Shield on license payments and sales of HBP assays once the test is launched, which is anticipated in late 2011.