News & Trends - MedTech & Diagnostics
New MBS listing of non-invasive test for heart disease management
Diagnostics & MedTech News: Effective July 1, 2024, a new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item has been introduced, enabling the measurement of biomarkers N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) or BNP levels via blood tests to assess the risk in patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
This development follows a successful MSAC submission spearheaded by Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (formerly Janssen), catalysed by updated guidelines from the 2022 European Society of Cardiology and the European Respiratory Society (ESC/ESR) on PAH management.
Compared to heart catheterisation (RHC) and transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE), BNP and NT-proBNP blood tests offer a non-invasive and more accessible diagnostic alternative, especially beneficial for individuals in remote or rural areas where TTEs are less readily available.
“NT-proBNP provides insight into the patient condition with heart failure that we can’t easily get any other way,” noted Professor Andrew Coats, Scientific Director and CEO of the Heart Research Institute in Sydney.
Recent findings from the multinational STRONG-HF trial underscore the utility of NT-proBNP in guiding the aggressive adjustment of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for hospitalised heart failure (HF) patients.
“The NT-proBNP changes over the course of the up-titration phase was very helpful in predicting the response of therapy and the outcome of patients,” said Professor John Amerena from Geelong Cardiology Research Unit.
Several Australian companies, including Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, Abbott, BioMerieux, and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, manufacture immunoassays for detecting NT-proBNP.
The MSAC decision and subsequent MBS listing were informed by consultations with key stakeholders, including the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG), Scleroderma Australia, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, Australian Rheumatology Association, Public Pathology Australia, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, and Lung Foundation Australia.
In reimagining healthcare, Health Industry HubTM is the ONLY one-stop-hub uniting the diversity of Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors to inspire meaningful change. The exclusive leadership and influencer podcasts and vodcasts offer unparalleled insights and add immense value to our breaking news coverage.
The Health Industry HubTM content is copyright protected. Access is available under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.
News & Trends - MedTech & Diagnostics
AI-assisted colonoscopy boosts polyp and adenoma detection
MedTech & Diagnostics News: In a standard colonoscopy, as many as one-third of colorectal polyps and adenomas can go by […]
MoreNews & Trends - Pharmaceuticals
‘Every day of delay is costing Australian lives’, says Rare Cancers Australia CEO
Pharma News: Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) has voiced its disappointment alongside the pharmaceutical industry following the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee’s […]
MoreNews & Trends - Pharmaceuticals
Government’s silence on Senate report leaves cancer patients in limbo
Pharma News: NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia has urged the government to respond to the Senate report on equitable access to diagnosis […]
More