As an organisation, we are proud to be celebrating 25 years of NIOX® technology. From a chance discovery in the 1990s to over 45 million tests performed today, it's clear that FeNO testing has made an impact and improved asthma diagnosis and management.1-3
As an organisation, we are proud to be celebrating 25 years of NIOX® technology. From a chance discovery in the 1990s to over 45 million tests performed today, it's clear that FeNO testing has made an impact and improved asthma diagnosis and management.1-3
Did you know that NIOX® was created by the original scientists who discovered the link between exhaled NO and airway inflammation? We have really been at the forefront of FeNO for 25 years!
It all started at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, when a team of scientists were investigating nitric oxide and its activity in the lungs. At the time, no one knew what was about to be discovered!
It all started at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, when a team of scientists were investigating nitric oxide and its activity in the lungs. At the time, no one knew what was about to be discovered!
By chance, some of the scientists had asthma and it was noted that the level of nitric oxide in their lungs was higher than those without asthma. This discovery, along with additional research, led to the development of FeNO testing, a new, non-invasive way to test for airway inflammation in the lungs!4
As a result of the FeNO discovery, a new company was founded to create technology to enable FeNO testing. In 1998, the first NIOX® device was launched. It was an innovative breakthrough, but was expensive, large and moved around on wheels!
As a result of the FeNO discovery, a new company was founded to create technology to enable FeNO testing. In 1998, the first NIOX® device was launched. It was an innovative breakthrough, but was expensive, large and moved around on wheels!
To improve on the original NIOX®, the team went on to develop the NIOX® Flex in 2000. As a desktop device, NIOX® Flex made FeNO testing more accessible. It was clear that the next innovation needed to be one that could make FeNO portable...
Introducing the world's first portable FeNO testing device, NIOX MINO®. No larger than a coffee pot5, this device enabled FeNO to become mainstream. Created in 2005, it took the asthma diagnosis and management space by storm! The next device however, was a giant leap for FeNO testing.
Introducing the world's first portable FeNO testing device, NIOX MINO®. No larger than a coffee pot5, this device enabled FeNO to become mainstream. Created in 2005, it took the asthma diagnosis and management space by storm! The next device however, was a giant leap for FeNO testing.
Created in 2013, the FeNO device we know today, NIOX VERO®, was introduced to the world. Improving on the user experience of NIOX MINO®, NIOX VERO® is accurate, reliable and straightforward.4,7 That's why it has gone on to become the device of choice for healthcare professionals.6
In 2017, NIOX VERO® received an upgrade. Now the device could test both FeNO and nNO. This innovation meant respiratory practitioners and researchers had a single portable device to conduct both tests in one.
In 2017, NIOX VERO® received an upgrade. Now the device could test both FeNO and nNO. This innovation meant respiratory practitioners and researchers had a single portable device to conduct both tests in one.
Today, FeNO testing is recommended by many local and international guidelines.8-14 It's amazing to see FeNO go from a chance discovery through to an internationally recognised and important test for asthma diagnosis and management.
We are very proud to have been the company that brought FeNO testing to the world. Here's to another 25 years of improving asthma, one breath at a time.
We are very proud to have been the company that brought FeNO testing to the world. Here's to another 25 years of improving asthma, one breath at a time.
References:
1. Menzies-Gow A et al. Clinical utility of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in severe asthma management. Eur Respir J. 2020;55(3):1901633. 2. Petsky HL et al. Exhaled nitric oxide levels to guide treatment for adults with asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;9(9):CD011440. 3. Sabatelli L et al. Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of routine use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide monitoring for the management of adult asthma patients in Spain. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2017;27(2):89-97. 4. Alving K et al. Validation of a new portable exhaled nitric oxide analyzer, NIOX VERO®: randomized studies in asthma. Pulm Ther. 2017;3:207-218. 5. Prof. Eddie Weitzberg. The NIOX Story: Taking Exhales Nitric Oxide from the Lab to the Point of Care. Available at; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaRHiiBZ5cI&list=PLPOBfKf3eav5VGtV9VkLm0FIaWAzVVOuD&index=1 6. NIOX®. Data on File; MKT-DOF-006. 2023. 7. Gao J et al. Association between fractional exhaled nitric oxide, sputum induction and peripheral blood eosinophil in uncontrolled asthma. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 2018;1 8. Dweik RA et al. An official ATS clinical practice guideline: interpretation of exhaled nitric oxide levels (FeNO) for clinical applications. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;184(5):602-15. 9. Khatri SB et al. An official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline: use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide to guide the treatment of asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021;204(10):e97-e109. 10. Gaillard EA et al. European Respiratory Society clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of asthma in children aged 5-16 years. Eur Respir J. 2021;58(5):2004173. 11. Louis R et al. European Respiratory Society guidelines for the diagnosis of asthma in adults. European Respiratory Journal. 2022;60(3). 12. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE guideline. Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management. 2021. 13. Cloutier MM et al. Expert Panel Working Group of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) administered and coordinated National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Coordinating Committee (NAEPPCC). 2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: a report from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Coordinating Committee Expert Panel Working Group. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020;146(6):1217-70. 14. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global strategy for asthma management and prevention, 2022. Available at; https://ginasthma.org/