Lucira Health Announces FDA Authorization of First & Only At-Home Combination Covid-19 & Flu Test and Comments on Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
February 27 2023 - 8:00AM
Lucira Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: LHDX) ("Lucira Health" or "Lucira"), a
medical technology company, announced today that the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA)
for its Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test for over the counter
(OTC) use at home and other non-laboratory sites. The Lucira
COVID-19 & Flu Home Test is a molecular test that demonstrated
similar performance for COVID-19 and Influenza A and B compared to
highly sensitive lab-based PCR tests in clinical trials. Lucira’s
COVID-19 & Flu Home Test represents a breakthrough in
diagnostic testing as the first at-home combination COVID-19 and
Flu test, and as the first Flu test for OTC use at home in the
United States in history. Until today, American consumers have
never before been able to self-diagnose Flu at home. The
easy-to-use, all-in-one combination test delivers results in 30
minutes or less from one shallow nasal swab.
Lucira believes that a single test for both COVID-19 and Flu can
be a powerful tool given how similar the two viruses appear.
“COVID-19 and Flu look the same, feel the same, spread the same
and, unfortunately, can still kill the same,” underscored Dr. Davey
Smith, Head of the Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public
Health at the University of California – San Diego. “Having an
at-home molecular test now available should really help people know
how to keep their families safe and seek appropriate treatment when
they're ill.”
“Our small but experienced team at Lucira has again demonstrated
the versatility of our technology platform by introducing this
first-of-its-kind innovation in clinically relevant at-home
diagnostics to the marketplace. The authorization of the COVID-19
& Flu Home Test with OTC label is another example of how Lucira
is helping to transform the future promise of home-based, fast,
accurate diagnostics into a reality,” said Erik Engelson, President
and CEO of Lucira Health. “Many people are not aware that
prescription antiviral medications exist for the treatment of Flu
as well as for Covid. But we believe an accurate diagnosis, early
in the course of infection is mandatory for effective use of such
medications. Prescription and fulfillment over telehealth is
convenient and safe, especially when at-home diagnoses take place
using a test such as the Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test.”
“We regret that we had no option but to file for Chapter 11
bankruptcy and that this occurred days before we received
regulatory authorization,” added Mr. Engelson. “Unfortunately we
were unable to bridge what became a protracted authorization cycle
time within our current capital structure and it remained unclear
to us when the regulatory authorization would come through, despite
working closely with FDA. The Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test
would have been especially useful during the recent, severe
respiratory season, and we had produced inventory for an
anticipated autumn 2022 launch. We remain confident in the role
that the new test can play in future respiratory seasons and are
honored to have received the first authorization for such a home
test. We appreciate the diligent work of the FDA team as they
refined requirements during the review cycle.”
Lucira is seeking a strategic or financial partner for the
resumption of manufacturing and development of additional home
diagnostic products.
The Company believes that its at-home, accurate diagnostic
products are a critical third leg of the stool that also includes
telehealth and home prescription delivery for the future of safe,
home-based healthcare. Lucira’s expectation is that as accurate
home diagnostics become prevalent, suffering and disease spread can
be reduced, and that all constituents, including the public health,
the healthcare value chain as well as the cost of healthcare can
benefit. In the end, consumers may think of visiting a healthcare
office for infectious disease diagnoses and treatment as being as
antiquated as going to a video rental store to get a movie to
watch: as a thing of the past.
For more information on the Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test,
please
visitwww.lucirahealth.com.
About the Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home
TestThe Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test is not an
antigen test. It is a molecular, nucleic acid amplification (NAAT)
test that utilizes the same platform and device design as both of
Lucira's commercialized FDA authorized COVID-19 tests to provide
independent diagnoses for COVID-19, Flu A and Flu B. The
lab-quality single-use test fits in the palm of your hand, runs on
2 AA batteries, and with one shallow nasal swab provides a positive
or negative result for COVID-19, Flu A and Flu B in 30 minutes or
less. Each Lucira test contains everything needed to run a single
test. There is no separate reader or instrument to purchase and
maintain.
About Lucira HealthLucira is a medical
technology company focused on the development and commercialization
of innovative infectious disease tests to make lab-quality
diagnostics more accessible. Lucira designed its test platform to
provide accurate, reliable, lab-quality test results anywhere and
at any time. Beyond its already commercialized molecular COVID-19
and COVID-19 & Flu tests, Lucira is working on new diagnostic
tests for respiratory infections and other categories including
women’s health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). For more
information, visit www.lucirahealth.com.
Forward Looking StatementsStatements contained
in this press release regarding matters that are not historical
facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results
may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Words such as “can,” “will,” “seek,”
“believe,” “should,” “future,” “look to,” “continue” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, our
belief that a single test for both COVID-19 and Flu will be a
powerful tool; at-home molecular test helping people know how to
keep their families safe and seek appropriate treatment when
they’re ill; and how OTC authorization is helping Lucira transform
the future promise of home-based, fast, accurate diagnostics into a
reality; the role the new test can play in future respiratory
seasons; Lucira’s seeking a strategic or financial partner for the
resumption of manufacturing and development of additional
diagnostic products and making products available in retail and
online and bringing additional diagnostic products to market;
Lucira’s work on new diagnostic tests for respiratory infections,
women’s health and STIs; and Lucira’s expectation that accurate
home diagnostics will become prevalent and reduce suffering and
disease spread, thereby benefiting all constituents, are based upon
Lucira’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may
never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and
uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are described more
fully in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in Lucira’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available
at www.sec.gov, including in Lucira’s most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and subsequently filed reports. Any forward-looking
statements that we make in this announcement speak only as of the
date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise after the date of this press release,
except as required under applicable law.
Media
Contact:media@lucirahealth.com
Investor Contact:Glenn WienerGW Communications
(for Lucira
Health)Email: gwiener@GWCco.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
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