Abbott's (ABT) TRACK-TBI Study Reveals Encouraging Results
Zacks Investment Research | Aug 27, 2019 08:54AM ET
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) announced favorable results from its new study, the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI). The study highlighted that elevated levels of protein measured with the company's blood test (currently under development) can aid the diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), even when a CT scan cannot detect it. Findings from the TRACK-TBI study indicate that this new assay could help identify patients, who might otherwise have gone undiagnosed.
This study outcome should be a crucial step forward for the company in its endeavor to boost TBI diagnosis and treatment.
More About the Study
TRACK-TBI, a prospective, multi-center observational study, is one of the largest and most unique TBI diagnosis efforts. Researchers from the TRACK-TBI study examined 450 patients, who were admitted to the emergency department of 18 Level 1 trauma centers in the United States, with a suspected TBI. They were made to undergo a negative CT scan to determine if the brain-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) could be a biomarker or indication that helps physicians diagnose TBIs. The study used Abbott's i-STAT Alinity device — a handheld, portable blood analyzer that delivers test results in minutes — and its current blood test procedure to measure a patient's GFAP protein level.
Among these 450 participants with a negative CT scan, researchers assessed GFAP levels in their blood and then monitored their MRI scans taken up to two weeks later to verify the TBI. The study highlighted that 64% of the 90 people with the highest levels of GFAP were confirmed to have a TBI by the MRI scan. On the contrary, 8% of the 90 people with the lowest levels of GFAP were confirmed to have a TBI. The research showed that GFAP could be used to identify people, who should be screened further or referred for an MRI to confirm their TBI.
The study also looked at three additional brain biomarkers to find out any correlation between elevated levels of those proteins and brain injury.
Market Prospects
Per Zacks Investment Research
Get The News You Want
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.