Axis-Shield
Axis-Shield develops anti-CCP rheumatoid arthritis test for Abbott Laboratories
In-vitro diagnostics group Axis-Shield PLC said it has developed and manufactured a new assay for anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide) used in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to run on Abbott Laboratories’ Architect family of automated immunoassay analysers.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation of the lining of the joints, causing pain and disability.
“The introduction of tests recognising anti-citrullinated protein antibodies has caused a revolution in rheumatology. The antibodies may occur in the blood long before the onset of symptoms and the anti-CCP test is superior to rheumatoid factor (RF) regarding diagnostic specificity for RA, and is often associated with potentially more severe disease course and outcome,” Dr Thomas Skogh at the Linkoping University Hospital in Sweden was cited as saying.
The new assay has been launched in non-US markets only and an application has been filed with the Food and Drug Administration for US marketing clearance.







