SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cepheid , a broad-based molecular diagnostics company, today announced that the State Regional Hazmat Response Team (Oakland County, MI) and the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii’s Bio-Weapon Illness Prevention Program and EMS Medical Strike Team selected the GeneXpert(R) System to provide mobile Anthrax detection.
“As more than 100,000 visitors traveled to the Detroit metro area this month, the State Regional Hazmat Response Team needed a solution to investigate potential biothreat attacks delivering accurate results in minutes, not hours,” said Gary Sharp of the Independence Fire Department. “The GeneXpert(R) System proved to be the ideal solution. Non-scientific personnel can operate the test and easily read the result, obtaining fast, accurate information to make informed decisions on scene.”
The GeneXpert System combines sample preparation with real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification and detection for fully-automated DNA analysis. The system purifies, concentrates, detects and identifies targeted nucleic acid sequences, delivering answers from unprocessed samples in minutes. Current techniques for performing the same complex sample prep and PCR procedures involve skilled technicians in microbiology labs performing manual tasks that can take more than a day to complete.
“Whether it’s protecting a major sporting event at Aloha Stadium or patrolling popular tourist sites, the Honolulu EMS Medical Strike Team is on call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week to protect citizens and visitors from potential biothreat attacks,” said Cortney M. Chambers, Homeland Security Coordinator for Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. “GeneXpert is an important addition to our mobile laboratory -- it’s an effective way to bring a sophisticated molecular diagnostics lab to the investigation scene.”
In addition to its use with emergency first responder units, GeneXpert Anthrax tests are currently in use at the United States Postal Service where over 2.1 million tests have already been run. In addition to the GeneXpert Anthrax test, an expanded menu of tests for other biothreat agents is under development.
“The GeneXpert System has demonstrated itself to be a capable tool in the nation’s fight against biological terrorism, but it is more than a biothreat detection system,” said Cepheid CEO John Bishop. “The GeneXpert System is expected to deliver in the near future immediately actionable results to medical professionals as well. Last October, Cepheid launched the GeneXpert BCR-ABL RUO product. For research use only, the product identifies the BCR- ABL chromosomal translocation associated with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in the clinical research laboratory. This product is expected to be complemented later this year by the introduction of several clinical diagnostic tests for medical conditions where a timely diagnosis is critical to patient care.”
About Cepheid
Cepheid , based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and markets fully-integrated systems for genetic analysis in the clinical, industrial and biothreat markets. The company’s systems enable rapid, sophisticated genetic testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases by automating otherwise complex manual laboratory procedures. The company’s easy-to-use systems integrate a number of complicated and time-intensive steps, including sample preparation, DNA amplification and detection, which enable the analysis of complex biological samples in its proprietary test cartridges. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the company is focusing on those applications where rapid molecular testing is particularly important, such as identifying infectious disease and cancer in the clinical market; food, agricultural, and environmental testing in the industrial market; and identifying bio-terrorism agents in the biothreat market. See www.cepheid.com for more information.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not purely historical regarding Cepheid’s or its management’s intentions, beliefs, expectations and strategies for the future, including those relating to product performance, timing of future product releases, clinical trials and regulatory processes, and the status of the USPS BDS program. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from the company’s current expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as those relating to: the scope of actual USPS funding in the future the rate of environmental testing using the BDS conducted by the USPS, which will affect the amount of consumable products sold, and whether the BDS performs to specifications; unforeseen development and manufacturing problems, including with respect to the GeneXpert(R) system, cartridges, and reagents; the effectiveness of our recently-implemented process controls; the need for additional licenses for new tests and other products and the terms of such licenses; our ability to complete clinical trials successfully in a timely manner for products to be marketed in clinical markets; uncertainties related to the FDA regulatory and European regulatory processes; our ability to successfully commercialize our stand-alone GeneXpert(R) system; lengthy sales cycles in certain markets; the performance and market acceptance of new products; sufficient customer demand in the other markets; our reliance on distributors to market, sell and support our products; the occurrence of unforeseen expenditures, acquisitions or other transactions; our success in increasing direct sales; the impact of competitive products and pricing; our ability to manage geographically- dispersed operations; and underlying market conditions worldwide. Readers should also refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Cepheid’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2005 and its other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
All forward-looking statements and reasons why results might differ included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, based on information currently available to Cepheid, and Cepheid assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement or reasons why results might differ.
CONTACTS At the Company: John L. Bishop John R. Sluis CEO, Cepheid CFO, Cepheid 408-541-4191 408-541-4191 john.bishop@cepheid.comjohn.sluis@cepheid.com At Schwartz Communications: Financial Relations Board: Chris Stamm / Tom Bain Tricia Ross 781-684-0770 Investor/Analyst Information cepheid@schwartz-pr.com 617-520-7064 tross@financialrelationsboard.com
Cepheid
CONTACT: John L. Bishop, CEO, john.bishop@cepheid.com, or John R. Sluis,CFO, john.sluis@cepheid.com, both of Cepheid, +1-408-541-4191; or ChrisStamm or Tom Bain, both of Schwartz Communications, +1-781-684-0770,cepheid@schwartz-pr.com, for Cepheid; or Investor/Analyst Information,Tricia Ross of Financial Relations Board, +1-617-520-7064,tross@financialrelationsboard.com, for Cepheid
Web site: http://www.cepheid.com/
