Moss, 22 March 2023

Gentian Diagnostics ASA, a fast-growing developer and manufacturer of diagnostic
tests, is pleased to announce the results from a study on health economic impact
of use of GCAL® Calprotectin Immunoassay for early detection of infection in
intensive care patients. The study has been presented at the International
Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (ISICEM) meeting in Brussels
which is currently ongoing. 

A health economic model has been developed, based on the results from a previous
study showing the ability of calprotectin to detect bacterial infections before
onset of clinical symptoms and antibiotic prescription1. 

The model was employed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of analysis of
calprotectin for early detection of bacterial infection and thus, the earlier
start of antibiotic treatment compared to other diagnostic biomarkers. The
base-case results show that predictively measuring of calprotectin in an
intensive care unit (ICU) setting, using the GCAL® Calprotectin assay, reduces
total costs by approximately 13 000 - 18 000 EUR per patient, overall mortality
rate by 0.11, and mean length of stay in an ICU and general ward by 1.3 - 2 days
and 6.9 - 8 days, respectively. Compared to procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive
protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC), calprotectin, analysed by the
GCAL® Calprotectin Immunoassay, was shown to save total costs, reduce the mean
duration of in-patient care, and reduce in-hospital mortality in those patients.

Although the study focuses on a health economic perspective, the main rationale
of analysis of calprotectin is from a clinical perspective, since early
diagnosis of severe infections and sepsis reduces both delays in treatment and
mortality. From this aspect, data from the health economic model support
previous studies, where early detection of severe infections and sepsis has both
cost-saving and life-saving impact in the ICU setting.

For further information please see the enclosed study poster. 

IR Contact: 
Njaal Kind, CFO 
njaal.kind@gentian.no 
+47 919 06 525 (mobile)

Reference: 1. Jonsson, N. et al., Calprotectin as an early biomarker of
bacterial infections in critically ill patients: an exploratory cohort
assessment. Crit Care Resusc. 2017 19, 205-213.