OpGen To Present Data Showing Acuitas Tests Are Effective Tools For Investigating Transmission Of "Super Bugs"
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpGen, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPGN) today announced that data on its Acuitas® Resistome Test and Acuitas Whole Genome Sequence (WGS) Analysis for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) will be presented at the American Society for Microbiology's First Conference on Rapid Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatic Pipelines for Enhanced Molecular Epidemiologic Investigation of Pathogens, to be held from September 24 to 27 in Washington, D.C.
Terry Walker, OpGen Senior Vice President of Research and Development and a presenter at the OpGen-sponsored symposium at the ASM conference, said, "Our symposium presentation and three posters underscore our technologies' rapid and highly accurate approach to determine the genetic variability underlying multidrug resistant organisms, and how to use that variability to investigate transmission events, help stop spread, and prevent outbreaks."
Dr. Walker's presentation, entitled "High Resolution Genomic Analysis of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms using Acuitas Resistome Test and Whole Genome Sequence Analysis," is scheduled for September 25 at 12:00 p.m. EDT in the Capitol Room at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The lunch symposium will review the two Acuitas tests and demonstrate OpGen's Whole Genome Sequencing capabilities for epidemiologic investigations by analyzing thousands of genes and show the triaging utility of the Acuitas Resistome Test, saving time and reducing costs associated with high resolution analysis.
The three posters will be on display September 25 and 26. Details are as follows:
1. "Acuitas Resistome Test—a high-throughput triage tool for strain typing by whole genome sequencing." Genotype resolution of OpGen's Acuitas Resistome test examines its utility as a hospital triage tool to determine transmission events and possible treatments.
2. "MLST+ strain typing of multidrug-resistance organisms (MDROs) using Acuitas Whole Genome Sequence Analysis." OpGen's Acuitas WGS Analysis was used to create MLST+ schemas for eight species of drug-resistant bacteria.
3. "Comprehensive analysis of antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) by whole genome sequencing using Acuitas Whole Genome Sequence Analysis." OpGen's Acuitas WGS Analysis was used to test a new database of all beta-lactamase genes to determine antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistance organisms.
About MDROs
Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) are common bacteria that have developed resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. They are a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and are associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. Each year, more than two million Americans acquire infections that are resistant to antibiotics and of those, 23,000 will die of those infections. Asymptomatic carriers are at a higher risk of an MDRO infection and become reservoirs for transmission to other patients in health care systems if not accurately identified early. Since there are many types of antibiotic resistant organisms, and the way they cause disease is dictated by their genetics, knowing the exact genetic profile of these organisms is a key step to preventing their ability to infect.
About OpGen
OpGen, Inc. is an early commercial-stage molecular testing and bioinformatics company focused on assisting healthcare providers to combat multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) bacterial infections – "Superbugs." The Company is addressing this growing public health threat by rapidly delivering precise, actionable information to help identify, combat, and prevent the spread of these complex infections that jeopardize the safety of our hospitals and other long-term care facilities. OpGen offers a full portfolio of Acuitas® products including the MDRO Gene Test, the Resistome Test, microbial Whole Genome Sequence Analysis, Acuitas Lighthouse™ MDRO Management System and QuickFISH™, a suite of FDA-cleared and CE-marked diagnostics for rapid molecular testing of positive blood cultures designed to assure appropriate antibiotic therapy. Learn more at www.opgen.com
OpGen Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements relating to the company's products and services. These statements and other statements regarding our future plans and goals constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control, and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations. Factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described include, but are not limited to, the rate of adoption of our products and services by hospitals, the success of our commercialization efforts, the effect on our business of existing and new regulatory requirements, and other economic and competitive factors. For a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties associated with OpGen's business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: OpGen Michael Farmer Director, Marketing (240) 813-1284 mfarmer@opgen.com InvestorRelations@opgen.com Investors LHA Kim Sutton Golodetz (212) 838-3777 kgolodetz@lhai.com or Bruce Voss (310) 691-7100 bvoss@lhai.com Media Lisa Guiterman (301) 217-9353 lisa.guiterman@gmail.com
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