BNP: Can Competitors Catch Up to Biosite?

Biosite has spent the last year building demand for its point-of-care testing (POCT) cardiac marker for chronic heart failure, BNP. The test is poised to be a major successs for Biosite, not least because it has semi-exclusive licensing rights (from Scios), which limit competition and because of the perceived value of its clinical utility. It could be a major victory for a small POCT company. But for Biosite, the hard part is just beginning as competition surfaces from other licensees and similar markers. Most immediately, Roche just launched a similar marker and is gearing up for battle.