Accelr8 Announces Research Programs in Two Leading Medical Research Centers
Accelr8 Technology Corporation (Amex:AXK) announced today that the company has begun joint research programs with Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) School of Medicine and with the Denver Health and Hospital Authority. The two institutions will conduct pre-clinical studies to identify antibiotic resistance mechanisms using Accelr8′s patented analytical methods. The company intends its BACcel® system, in development, to use these methods to speed the diagnosis of life-threatening infections in critically ill patients, and particularly for healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Organisms targeted by the system include the so-called “superbug” multi-drug resistant bacteria such as MRSA, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, E. coli, and related microbes.
Initial studies will expand those previously presented by Accelr8 scientists at leading scientific and medical conferences. The studies will provide independent third-party assessments of Accelr8′s test performance.
The first phase will replicate studies on Accelr8′s rapid MRSA identification method. MRSA is the multi-drug resistant “superbug” most often reported in recent news stories. Accelr8 scientists have already presented data that demonstrated the ability to rapidly identify difficult MRSA strains in a challenge collection provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new studies will substantially expand the number of isolates (pure bacterial strains) used to statistically characterize Accelr8′s test performance. The new isolates will include organisms obtained from recent cases and will thus include strain variations that reflect current bacterial populations.
After fulfillment of the current agreements, the company plans to extend studies to additional test types. Additional planned studies ultimately lead to prospective comparisons against standard laboratory methods (bacterial cultures) using new patient specimens. Accelr8 has used its analytical methods in pilot studies of bacteria and antibiotic resistance mechanisms that are more difficult to identify than MRSA and that cause greater mortality. Alternative rapid tests do not exist for these additional bacteria and drug resistance types.
According to David Howson, Accelr8′s president, “we are very pleased that the respected investigators at these institutions will collaborate on studies of our innovative diagnostic methods. The studies will provide independent technical assessments. This important step reflects our confidence gained through internal scientific studies and development efforts.
“These pre-clinical studies will use laboratory instruments that allow rapid adaptation and upgrading as we proceed with product development. This plan will give us direct feedback from actual field experience as we integrate each additional test or engineering advance into the system.
“We have unique technology for a unique mission. Accelr8′s analytical methods can identify the important additional drug resistance mechanisms that are not detected by rapid molecular techniques such as gene analysis,” Howson continued. “Mortality for critically ill patients who acquire infections in the hospital continues at a rate of approximately 100,000 deaths annually in the U.S. We believe that the relentless advance of antibiotic resistance will to some extent counter-balance improvements in preventive practices. We also believe that leading research institutions, such as WUSTL and Denver Health, will ultimately prove the unique value of rapid, disease-directed diagnostics in reversing this deadly trend,” he concluded.
About Accelr8
Accelr8 Technology Corporation (www.accelr8.com) is a developer of innovative materials and instrumentation for advanced applications in medical instrumentation, basic research, drug discovery, and bio-detection. Accelr8 is developing the BACcel® rapid clinical pathogen platform based on its innovative surface coatings, assay processing, and detection technologies. In addition, Accelr8 licenses certain of its proprietary technology for use in applications outside of Accelr8′s own products.
Certain statements in this news release may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements regarding future prospects and developments are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from the forward-looking statement, including those detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accelr8 does not undertake an obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events.