SOLNA, Sweden, 12 February 2009 - Aerocrine AB (OMX Nordic Exchange: AERO) has reported the recent publication of a UK study evaluating the effect of routine inflammation measurement in asthma.
The economic study was intended to evaluate the effect on the direct costs of UK asthma care when buying and using Aerocrine's NIOX MINO product.
By measuring inflammation - the underlying cause of asthma symptoms - doctor and patient gain a better understanding of the symptom profile, and can control treatment more optimally. The patient performs a simple exhaled air test into the NIOX MINO, which returns an inflammation value. The study is based on reimbursement of £23 per test from the NHS to care providers.
Results demonstrate that routine measurement in patients that use cortisone inhaler generates a cost saving of £341 per patient and year. For sufferers of more severe asthma, the saving is £554 per patient and year.
The savings are possible because treatment can be optimised using the results from NIOX MINO tests. This reduces the number of visits to casualty and hospital admissions, and cuts the amount of cortisone inhaler doses needed to keep patients symptom free.
Thus, the introduction of continuous inflammation monitoring not only outweighs the cost of testing with NIOX MINO, but also cuts the total cost of care.
The article was published in the latest issue of Allergy journal.
"The fact that measuring inflammation cuts healthcare costs while dramatically improving control is highly significant for people that live with asthma and for the UK healthcare system," commented Paul de Potocki, CEO of Aerocrine.
About Aerocrine
Aerocrine AB is a medical technology company focused on the improved management and care of patients with inflammatory airway diseases. As the pioneer and leader in the technology to monitor and manage airway inflammation, Aerocrine markets NIOX® Flex and NIOX MINO®. Both products enable fast and reliable management of airway inflammation and may therefore play a critical role in more effective diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma. Aerocrine is based in Sweden with subsidiaries in the US, Germany and the UK. Aerocrine shares were listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange on 15 June 2007.
Aerocrine may be required to disclose the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication at 11.30 am on 12 February 2009.
Journal
Allergy