LexaGene Reports on Successful Results from Beta Testing in Human Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory
September 19 2019 - 7:58AM
LexaGene Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: LXXGF; TSX-V: LXG) (the
“Company”), a biotechnology company that develops genetic analyzers
for rapid pathogen detection and other molecular markers, announced
today it has completed beta testing with Assurance Scientific
Laboratories (ASL) in Vestavia, Alabama. ASL is a certified
reference laboratory specializing in providing clinical testing
results to physicians nationwide. The laboratory processes over 300
urine samples per week for human urinary tract infections – plus
hundreds of other sample types.
Dr. Greer Massey, ASL’s Director of Molecular Diagnostics,
comments, “We enjoyed using LexaGene’s technology. Their
staff has built a very easy-to-use instrument that allows for the
detection of many different targets from a single sample
extraction. We processed many complicated UTI samples containing
multiple pathogens on their instrument and found good correlation
between LexaGene’s assays and our semi-automated process. The
ability to automate extraction and sample analysis with less than 1
min of hands-on time will allow for lower overhead expenses.
We look forward to moving to a process that eliminates
micropipetting.”
Mary Beth Minyard, ASL’s Director of Microbiology, comments,
“We’re interested in LexaGene’s technology not only for its
ease-of-use as it automates sample prep, assay assembly, and assay
performance, but also because its ‘open-access’ feature allows us
to use our own assays. Collectively, this integrated device
drastically reduces our hands-on time. Being able to combine
automated sample extraction and analysis at a reasonable price
would be a huge selling point for us.”
LexaGene has now completed beta tests for urinary tract
infections in both dogs and humans, uncovering very different
infection profiles for both. In comparison to the canine
samples, the human samples were much more frequently infected with
two or more pathogens – and the prevalence of antibiotic resistance
genes was much higher. These data support the recent New York
Times article1 that described urinary tract infections as needing
more advanced diagnostics to more quickly inform on antibiotic
resistance rather than relying on the standard culture process –
which takes days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) views
antibiotic resistance as being one of the biggest public health
challenges of our time,2 as it could cause 10 million deaths each
year by 2050.3As such, there is high demand for technologies that
can improve antibiotic stewardship by providing in-hospital
actionable information within an hour of initiating sample
processing – and LexaGene’s technology meets this need.
Dr. Jack Regan, CEO and Founder of LexaGene states, “We are very
pleased that our beta program is having such great success.
We expect this trend to continue as we work through the final
stages of commercializing this technology.”
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subscribe on the Company website.
1
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/13/health/urinary-infections-drug-resistant.html2
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest_threats.html3
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/29-04-2019-new-report-calls-for-urgent-action-to-avert-antimicrobial-resistance-crisis
About LexaGene Holdings Inc.LexaGene is a
biotechnology company that develops genetic analyzers for pathogen
detection and other molecular markers for on-site rapid testing in
veterinary diagnostics, food safety and for use in open-access
markets such as clinical research, agricultural testing and
biodefense. End-users simply need to collect a sample, load it onto
the instrument with a sample preparation cartridge, enter sample ID
and press ‘go’. The LX Analyzer delivers excellent sensitivity,
specificity, and breadth of detection and can process multiple
samples at a time, in an on-demand fashion, returning results in
about 1 hour. The unique open-access feature is designed for custom
testing so that end-users can load their own real-time PCR assays
onto the instrument to target any genetic target of interest.
About Assurance Scientific
LaboratoriesAssurance Scientific Laboratories (ASL) is
comprised of a passionate team of medical doctors and scientists
who believe in using the best objective data available to help
health care providers make accurate and timely diagnoses. Our
mission is to provide healthcare providers
with Assurance to treat their patients in the best manner
possible. We specialize in molecular, microbiology, and toxicology
assays and technology. For more information,
visit Assurance Scientific Laboratories.
Media Contacts Nicole Ridgedale Director of
Corporate Marketing, LexaGene800.215.1824 ext
206nridgedale@lexagene.com
Investor Relations Jay AdelaarVice President of
Capital Markets, LexaGene800.215.1824 ext
207jadelaar@lexagene.com
The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way
passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither
approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider
(as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
This news release contains forward-looking information, which
involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause actual events to differ materially from current
expectation. Important factors -- including the availability of
funds, the results of financing efforts, the success of technology
development efforts, the cost to procure critical parts,
performance of the instrument, market acceptance of the technology,
regulatory acceptance, and licensing issues -- that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations
as disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on
SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims
any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law,
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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