SAN DIEGO, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Accumetrics, Inc., a privately-held developer and marketer of the VerifyNow System, the first rapid and easy-to-use point-of-care diagnostic system for measuring platelet reactivity to multiple antiplatelet agents, announced today that the company has signed an agreement with Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop and supply the VerifyNow System and VerifyNowTests for use in clinical trials.

The VerifyNow System is widely used by practicing physicians to assess patients' platelet response to various antiplatelet therapies already available on the market, such as aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors (e.g. Plavix(R) and Effient(R)) and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. The VerifyNow System is also a frequently used tool of clinical researchers to measure the antiplatelet effect of drugs in development. By incorporating the VerifyNow System in pharmaceutical clinical trials, data are generated to support the integration of platelet reactivity testing in the patient care pathway as new agents are introduced to the market.

"With the signing of this agreement, Accumetrics is solidifying its role as a premier partner of pharmaceutical companies in the development and validation of new and emerging antiplatelet drugs," said Timothy I. Still, President and CEO of Accumetrics. "With the trend towards individualized and targeted approaches to treating patients, the VerifyNow System plays an important role at both the commercial and development ends of the spectrum."

The VerifyNow System is widely used in various clinical settings where antiplatelet medications are prescribed to reduce the occurrence of future thrombotic events such as heart attack and stroke.