October 17, 2014 — Akers Biosciences Inc. has signed a feasibility study deal with Konica Minolta Inc. to develop a rapid test for the early detection of myocardial infarction. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in United States, with approximately 1.1 million Americans suffering heart attacks each year.
The Japanese technology company, Konica Minolta, has asked Akers to study a diagnostic test based on Akers' proprietary Particle Immuno Filtration Assay (PIFA) technology which, if successful, will facilitate the rapid detection of biomarkers present in a blood sample which can be used to identify cardiac muscle tissue damage. Such tissue damage can occur even at the early stages of a heart attack so early diagnosis could have a significant beneficial impact on patient
treatment. The PIFA technology, when combined with Akers' proprietary Rapid Blood Cell Separation Technology, seraSTAT, permits the testing of whole blood from a finger prick sample allowing a test to be carried out in minutes at the point of care.
Currently available tests for cardiac muscle tissue damage require a blood draw and the use of an interpretation device (a reader) and typically take 20-30 minutes to complete in a laboratory. Konica Minolta, at its own cost, has asked Akers to study a test which can be performed in under 10 minutes, using only a small blood sample obtained from a finger stick, and which can be read visually at the point of care.
"Identifying the early stages of a heart attack — or knowing that one has occurred — is critical for treatment," said Raymond Akers Jr., Ph.D., executive chairman. "Many heart attacks develop slowly; some without obvious symptoms or some with symptoms commonly associated with other conditions such as indigestion, fatigue or stress. Therefore the ability to perform real-time diagnoses of cardiac muscle tissue damage which is specifically indicative of myocardial infarction would dramatically impact the treatment of heart attack sufferers and improve survival rates," continued Akers. "
Additionally, it is important to note that the company will retain all of its intellectual property rights related to the test being developed for Konica Minolta.
For more information: www.akersbiosciences.com
October 09, 2019 
