ProAxsis (www.proaxsis.com) was delighted to observe that measuring active neutrophil elastase (NE) by its ProteaseTag® Active NE Immunoassay was identified as a potential biomarker of bacterial exacerbation in COPD patients at this week’s British Thoracic Society conference in London.
The respiratory team from the University of Oxford, with Samantha Thulborn as lead author, presented data on more than 120 sputum samples from patients with COPD, which highlighted statistically significant correlations between levels of neutrophil elastase, as measured by the ProteaseTag® Active NE Immunoassay, and other clinical symptoms including cough, dyspnoea and sputum purulence.
The group also identified a clear association between active NE levels and bacterial infection.
Dr David Ribeiro, CEO of ProAxsis, said “Our ProteaseTag® Active NE Immunoassay continues to gain recognition as a valuable tool amongst researchers working in respiratory diseases such as COPD, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. The team at the University of Oxford are well recognised as being experts in respiratory exacerbations, so it is very pleasing for us that they have incorporated our immunoassay in to their latest study, and shown such positive results.”

Any queries concerning ProAxsis’ Immunoassays for measuring active neutrophil elastase, or any other aspects of the company’s proprietary ProteaseTag® technology, can be directed to info@77.104.171.207. ProAxsis is part of the NetScientific group and is one of the group’s core portfolio companies. The company is also supported by QUBIS, the commercialisation arm of Queens University.