LexaGene Receives Purchase Order from a Multinational Biotechnology Company
November 16 2020 - 7:58AM
LexaGene Holdings, Inc., (TSX-V: LXG; OTCQB: LXXGF) (the
“
Company”), a molecular diagnostics company that
develops fully automated rapid pathogen detection systems, is
pleased to announce that it has received a purchase order for a
MiQLab™ system from a multinational biotechnology company that
generates billions in annual revenue.
MiQLab is the first commercially available open-access multiplex
PCR system of its kind. The open-access feature means it is
extremely easy for operators to use the automated MiQLab system at
their facility to perform customized, highly multiplexed PCR tests.
This is highly desirable over the alternative, which is to ship
collected samples to a reference laboratory for manual PCR
processing by skilled molecular biologists or waiting days for
cultures to grow.
The biotechnology company that has provided LexaGene a purchase
order is a manufacturer of biologics, vaccines, and chemicals. Many
of these biologics are grown in bioreactors that can be thousands
of liters in size. During scale-up manufacturing, it is possible to
have a bioreactor become contaminated with bacteria. The failure to
detect such bacteria during the transfer of the product from a
small bioreactor to a large bioreactor can cost the company
hundreds of thousands of dollars to a million or more dollars.
To help prevent massive product losses late in the manufacturing
process, the biotechnology company was looking for an easy to use
and reliable sample-to-answer system that could process bioreactor
material looking for a variety of different bacteria. One of the
slower growing bacteria they are targeting can take as much as two
weeks to grow sufficiently to be detectable by traditional
plate-based culture methods. LexaGene’s customizable MiQLab system
solves this problem by automating a PCR test for this slow growing
bacterium. PCR amplifies targeted sequences by > 1 billion-fold
to provide much earlier detection than is possible when waiting for
culture.
Earlier this fall, the biotechnology company requested an
in-house demonstration of LexaGene’s MiQLab. For this
demonstration, LexaGene designed a test for the slow growing C.
acnes bacteria and combined it with tests already developed for E.
coli, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. The biotechnology company
arrived at LexaGene with representative samples that were taken
from a bioreactor. These samples were separately spiked with each
of the targeted bacteria. MiQLab successfully detected all four
bacteria – even the slowest growing bacteria, proving LexaGene’s
sample preparation cartridge successfully handled the complex
sample type from the bioreactor and the MiQLab system achieved very
strong detection of the targeted bacteria.
Dr. Jack Regan, LexaGene’s CEO and Founder, states, “Years ago,
I recognized the life sciences sector lacked automated
instrumentation that allows end-users to easily create a customized
test. I’m excited to announce that we now have a commercial system
available for sale to help solve this problem. It is very
gratifying that our first sale will be to a company that wants our
technology for open-access use. This is just the beginning. Over
the coming weeks and months, we expect to continue to roll out our
technology into the open-access market, as well as to the
veterinary diagnostics market, and eventually the human clinical
diagnostics market.”
To be added to the LexaGene email list, please subscribe on the
Company website.
On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsDr.
Jack ReganChief Executive Officer
& Director
About LexaGene Holdings Inc.LexaGene is a
molecular diagnostics company that develops molecular diagnostic
systems for pathogen detection and genetic testing for 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
MiQLab™ system delivers excellent sensitivity, specificity, and
breadth of detection and can return results in approximately one
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.
For further information, please contact:
Media ContactsNicole RidgedaleDirector of
Corporate Marketing, LexaGene800.215.1824 ext
206nridgedale@lexagene.com
Investor RelationsJay 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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