A potentially life-saving antiplatelet response monitoring system called VerifyNow reaches new markets in South America and Europe this month, according to statements released this week by Accumetrics, Inc., the manufacturers of the product.

The San Diego, California-based company has teamed up with Endotech SPA to distribute the point of care device in Italy and Grifols to handle markets in Chile, Spain and Portugal. VerifyNow is now available in 25 countries throughout North America, Europe, South America and Asia.

"We're in a very, very good market position right now," Tim Still, CEO of Accumetrics, tells DOTmed Business News.

VerifyNow is a small photometric reader that quickly tells physicians how well patients are responding to antiplatelet medication. It works by using light to see how fast platelets aggregate in response to a drug. Replaceable cartridges with blood samples load into the device, and results are given in minutes.

Antiplatelet medication, such as aspirin or Plavix (clopidogrel), the world's second most prescribed drug, according to Still, is usually given to people with cardiovascular disease, especially those with stents, to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming.

"If someone receives a drug-eluting stent, they are put on dual antiplatelet therapy for a minimum of 12 months," says Still. "There's an American Heart Association guideline that basically recommends that. If a patient is on that therapy, we have the technology able to see how the patient is responding to it."

Measuring platelet response is critical, Still says, because one out of every three patients on antiplatelet drugs does not respond to the medication. According to Accumetrics, this could make the patient five to 10 times more likely to have a potentially deadly ischemic event.

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly's antiplatelet drug prasugrel is expected to receive full FDA approval next year. VerifyNow is what Still calls a "pharmaceutical-neutral" device -- it can be adapted for all antiplatelet drugs, so he says his company is in a position where it can expect real future growth. "It's a good place to be," he says.

Tim Still joined Accumetrics 18 months ago following a management shake-up at the company. The new team, with over 20 years' experience commercializing medical products, is "responsible for expanding distribution on a global basis," says Still.

Prior to heading up Accumetrics, Tim Still worked for HemoSense from 2004-2007, which he describes as a "small cap, point of care, medical diagnostic company." After taking the company public, he facilitated the sale to Inverness Medical at the end of 2007.

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