PharmaNetics: Tracking drug action

PharmaNetics Inc. is taking traditional diagnostics one step further by developing products that improve treatments on the fly. For example, the company believes that its new partnership with Bayer Diagnostics to develop platelet inhibitor diagnostics will improve GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy and decrease the potential for bleeding episodes by providing physicians the ability to monitor such drugs at the point of care.

Under last week's deal, Bayer (Pittsburgh, Penn.) and PHAR will develop a point-of-care test to monitor the effect of platelet inhibitors, specifically focusing on GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors. The class of drugs includes ReoPro abciximab, developed by Johnson & Johnson's Centocor Inc. subsidiary (Malvern, Penn.); Integrilin eptifibatide from Cor Therapeutics Inc. (CORR, South San Francisco, Calif.), and Aggrastat tirofiban from Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK, Whitehouse Station, N.J.)...