MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major study released this weekend from the University Hospital Muenster, Germany¹ (http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7899551-nephrocheck-test-acute-kidney-injury-outcomes/), Astute Medical's CE marked and FDA cleared NephroCheck® Test identified patients at high risk of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) after open heart surgery. In this randomized control trial led by Alexander Zarbock, M.D., those patients identified received either the institution's standard of care or a treatment per Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines (http://kdigo.org/home/guidelines). For the first time, there is now evidence that early recognition of AKI risk combined with clinically guided treatments reduces the occurrence of moderate to severe AKI by more than 33%, a substantial improvement over current standard of care.

"We congratulate our colleagues at Astute Medical and their clinical collaborators on the release of this significant study," said Charles R. Kummeth, President and Chief Executive Officer at Bio-Techne. "We are strong advocates for protein biomarkers as important tools in diagnostics. However, it is only through studies like the one reported here that we can gauge the true value of a test's ability to impact patients and overall healthcare costs. The results here are nothing short of stunning!  We're excited about our current and future collaborative projects, adding to the Astute140® test menu and allowing the Astute Medical development team access to our vast content catalogue of potential biomarkers."  

More information on the NephroCheck® Test for risk assessment of AKI can be found at: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7899551-nephrocheck-test-acute-kidney-injury-outcomes/

On December 14, 2016, Bio-Techne announced a strategic partnership with Astute Medical that included an equity investment by Bio-Techne.  The partnership was structured to allow Bio-Techne to build a strategic foundation in diagnostics, with an option to further expand the relationship. (https://www.bio-techne.com/press-releases/press/20161214)

¹ Meersch M, Schmidt C, Hoffmeier A, et al. Prevention of cardiac surgery-associated AKI by implementing the KDIGO guidelines in high risk patients identified by biomarkers: The PreAKI randomized controlled trial. Intensive Care Med. Open access online. 2017.

ABOUT BIO-TECHNE CORPORATION:
Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) is a global life sciences company providing innovative tools and bioactive reagents for the research and clinical diagnostic communities. Bio-Techne products assist scientific investigations into biological processes and the nature and progress of specific diseases. They aid in drug discovery efforts and provide the means for accurate clinical tests and diagnoses. With thousands of products in its portfolio, Bio-Techne generated approximately $499 million in net sales in fiscal 2016 and has approximately 1,650 employees worldwide. For more information on Bio-Techne and its brands, please visit www.bio-techne.com.

Intended Use and Indications for the NephroCheck^® Test System:
The NephroCheck^® Test System is intended to be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation in patients who currently have or have had within the past 24 hours acute cardiovascular and or respiratory compromise and are ICU patients as an aid in the risk assessment for moderate or severe acute kidney injury (AKI) within 12 hours of patient assessment. The NephroCheck^® Test System is intended to be used in patients 21 years of age or older.

Forward-Looking Statements

Our press releases may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of operations.  Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding our belief about the market applications and impact of our investment in and collaboration with Astute Medical, Inc.  and our ability to derive advantages from this investment.  The following important factors, among others, have affected and, in the future could affect, the actual results: our management of investments in and acquisitions of new businesses into Bio-Techne, the effect of new branding and marketing initiatives, the introduction and acceptance of new products, the levels and particular directions of research and product development by our customers, general economic conditions, the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations, and the costs and results of our research and product development efforts and those of companies in which we have invested or with which we have formed strategic relationships.  For additional information concerning such factors, see the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements we make in our press releases due to new information or future events. Investors are cautioned not to place undue emphasis on these statements.

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SOURCE Bio-Techne Corporation