LexaGene Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: LXXGF; TSX-V: LXG)
(“LexaGene” or the “Company”), a molecular diagnostics company
that has commercialized an instrument for automated multiplex, PCR
testing for veterinary diagnostics and biopharmaceutical
manufacturing, today announced, it successfully utilized
its MiQLab™ System to correctly identify bacteria and
determine the presence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) markers
that predict resistance to commonly prescribed first-line
veterinary antibiotics.
Decades of over-use of antibiotics have resulted in a drastic
rise in pathogens that are very difficult to treat due to their
rapid evolution to resist the ‘killing’ effect of prescribed
therapies. The problem has become so prevalent, and very few new
drugs are in development, that the CDC predicts antimicrobial
resistant pathogens will kill more than 10 million people per year
in less than 30 years.1 To put this into perspective, over 3
million people died of COVID-19 in 2020,2 which would equate to
just one-third of the yearly expected impact from drug resistant
bacteria. The pandemic appears to have potentially accelerated
these grim projections, as drug resistant infections have risen
sharply during the pandemic and contributed to increased
mortality.2,3 Providers have been slow to implement changes in drug
prescription practices due to a lack of technologies that quickly
inform on drug resistance at the point-of-care.
At the largest veterinary trade shows in September, LexaGene was
the only company exhibiting with a product capable of rapid
pathogen identification and AMR detection at the point-of-care, and
accordingly the technology was met with much enthusiasm.
Dr. Jack Regan, LexaGene’s CEO and Founder stated, “The results
from this study prove that the MiQLab is extremely accurate.
LexaGene’s MiQLab has already started to help veterinarians with
evidence-based decision making at the point-of-care, and these
actions are critical to averting the grim projections on the number
of future deaths due to AMR pathogens. We are happy that we are
gaining momentum in veterinary diagnostics and expect our
technology to eventually be considered a ‘must-have’ for veterinary
hospitals interested in offering best-in-class service.”
He continued, “Published veterinary studies report that as
little as 18 percent5,6,7 of urine samples taken from animals
suspected of having a urinary tract infection (UTI) test positive
for pathogens, but getting this information typically takes ~ 5
days. Many veterinarians are unwilling to wait this long for test
results as an untreated urinary tract infection can lead to
significant complications. As such, most veterinarians empirically
prescribe drugs to pets suspected of having an infection because
they are fearful of not treating a potentially dangerous infection.
Such over-use of antibiotics has increased the prevalence of drug
resistant pathogens and veterinarians are now increasingly caring
for patients with unresolved infections, which can sometimes lead
to euthanizing a pet, which contributes to caregiver
depression.8”
LexaGene is proud to offer veterinarians the MiQLab System as a
solution to minimize the number of unresolved infections, which we
believe, will not only helps save the lives of animals, but also
improve the morale of veterinarians who tirelessly care for our
companion pets.
About the StudyThe study used two sets of
bacterial pathogens. The first set consisted of 32 sequenced
strains from the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Isolate Bank.9 The
second set included 74 bacterial isolates from dogs with urinary
tract infections. These isolates were not sequenced and have only
culture-based drug resistance profiles associated with them.
MiQLab Systems, equipped with MiQLab Bacterial and AMR Test V2*
panels, recorded 100% and 99.1% overall percent agreements for
pathogen identification for the sequenced CDC pathogens and the
non-sequenced canine UTI isolates, respectively. Likewise, the
MiQLab recorded 96.2% and 92.5% overall percent agreements for
antimicrobial resistance for the sequenced CDC pathogens and
non-sequenced canine UTI isolates for which only culture data is
available, respectively.
An in-depth version of these data is being compiled for a
peer-reviewed publication.
*MiQLab Bacterial and AMR Test V2 detects 10 common pathogens
and 33 genes and variants that confer resistance to four classes of
antimicrobials (beta-lactams, lincosamides, sulfa-TMP, and
tetracyclines).
To learn more about LexaGene and the MiQLab System or subscribe
to company updates, visit www.lexagene.com, or follow us on Twitter
or LinkedIn.
On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsDr.
Jack ReganChief Executive Officer &
Chairman
Corporate & Media Contact:Gail
WinslowDirector of Corporate
Marketinggwinslow@lexagene.com978.482.6237
ir@lexagene.com800.215.1824
Investors:Sharon ChoeVice
PresidentLaVoieHealthScienceschoe@lavoiehealthscience.com(857)
241-7393
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 two
hours. 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.
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.
1) https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/threats-report/2019-ar-threats-report-508.pdf
2)
https://news.yahoo.com/drug-resistant-infections-us-risen-153759696.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma&guccounter=1
3) https://news.yahoo.com/drug-resistant-infections-us-risen-153759696.html
4) https://www.who.int/data/stories/the-true-death-toll-of-covid-19-estimating-global-excess-mortality
5) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24158327/
6) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11467591/
7) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25249356/
8) https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p1220-veterinarians-suicide.html
9) Antibiotic Resistance Isolate Bank. Atlanta (GA): CDC.
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/arisolatebank/
Corporate & Media Contact:
Gail Winslow
Director of Corporate Marketing
gwinslow@lexagene.com
978.482.6237
ir@lexagene.com
800.215.1824
Investors:
Sharon Choe
Vice President
LaVoieHealthScience
schoe@lavoiehealthscience.com
(857) 241-7393
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