Philips and Immunetrics to combat infectious diseases in critical
care
4 February 2009
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) and Immunetrics Inc.
have entered into a joint development agreement to explore new
approaches to the problem of infectious disease in critical care.
Philips currently owns a 29% stake in Immunetrics, a biosimulation
company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
The partnership unites Philips’ strength in patient monitoring and
the design and implementation of applications to help clinicians make
more informed care decisions, and Immunetrics’ strengths in the dynamic
modeling and simulation of complex biological systems.
Under the joint development agreement, Philips Research and
Immunetrics will study the combination of advanced bioinformatics and
computer modeling to identify opportunities to reduce the incidence and
improve the management of systemic infection, a major complicating
factor among many critically ill patients.
Critical care is a branch of medicine that involves the specialized
treatment of patients with acute, life-threatening illness or injury. It
is an area of persistent unmet need and significant consumption of
healthcare resources. For example, critical care expense in the USA
represents the equivalent of nearly one percent of its gross domestic
product.
Sepsis, a life-threatening, systemic inflammatory response to
infection, is an example of a key medical challenge for which Philips
Research and Immunetrics seek to develop new mechanisms for early and
effective intervention. In the USA and Europe sepsis afflicts more than
two million people each year and incidence of the condition is growing.
Despite the best currently available treatment, approximately one in
every three patients with severe sepsis will die.
“The management of the condition of critical care patients involves
the monitoring and control of a multitude of parameters, a field in
which Philips has a leading position. Yet, we see patient outcomes that
are frequently unpredictable and sub-optimal,” said Henk van Houten,
senior vice president of Philips Research and head of its Healthcare
Research program.
“Through our collaboration with Immunetrics, a leader in
computational modeling of pathophysiology and treatment, we will broaden
our portfolio of research approaches directed to assessing infection
risk and optimizing intervention, with the goal of improving the quality
of care and reducing the mortality of critically ill patients.”
“Immunetrics is excited to team with Philips Research and its
significant technology resources with the goal of advancing patient care
across the acute care setting,” said Steven Chang, president and CEO of
Pittsburgh-based Immunetrics. “This collaboration recognizes the
potential of bioinformatics and computational modeling in providing
breakthrough solutions to enable clinicians to improve the assessment,
care and outcomes of patients.”
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