Akers Biosciences allowed US Patent for heparin/PF4 antibody detection

The newly allowed Patent covers Akers Bio's proprietary protein preparation which serves as the antigen and biologically active component of the tests.

Akers Bio's flagship PIFA Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay and PIFA PLUSS PF4 tests were designed to quickly determine if a patient being treated with the blood thinner heparin may be developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). This clinical syndrome reverses the heparin's intended therapeutic effect and transforms it into a clotting agent. Patients suffering HIT are at risk of developing limb- and life-threatening complications, so the timely test result provided by the company's Heparin/PF4 devices is paramount to effective and cost-efficient clinical decision making.

Akers Bio's Heparin/PF4 devices determine if a patient may be developing HIT by identifying the presence of heparin/platelet factor 4 antibodies. The newly allowed Patent covers Akers Bio's proprietary protein preparation which serves as the antigen and biologically active component of the tests.

"Having developed the only FDA-cleared rapid manual assays for determining if a patient may be developing HIT, it is essential to ensure the Company has multi-faceted, robust patent protection that further underpins their future value," said Raymond F. Akers, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman. "This Patent is particularly important because it protects the antigen that gives our tests their superior accuracy. With published studies that demonstrate that our tests never deliver a false positive result, we believe them to be the most accurate available way to rule out HIT," continued Dr Akers.