Luminex in E. coli Management - Analyst Blog
June 13 2011 - 9:04AM
Zacks
Luminex Corporation (LMNX), a developer of
biological testing technologies, recently reported that its new
xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (“GPP”) test has been
successfully used at German hospital, Kliniken der Stadt Koln, as a
first-line screen for patients suspected of having the Escherichia
coli (E. coli) infection.
The E. coli is a common bacterium that lives in the intestines
of humans and many animals.
The diagnostic test detected hemolytic-uremic syndrome (“HUS”)
caused by Shiga toxin producing E. coli (“STEC”), a type of E. coli
bacteria, responsible for the current E. coli crisis in
Germany.
HUS, which predominantly affects children, is a life-threatening
condition which typically occurs when an infection in the digestive
system produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells,
leading to kidney failure.
Luminex worked with the Kliniken der Stadt Koln, Institute of
Pathology, to deploy the xTAG GPP based on its ability to
accurately detect the disease-causing pathogens in patient
samples.
Europe has been severely hit by the worst E. coli outbreak in
recent history. According to the World Health Organization (“WHO”),
3,256 people across the continent have been sickened by E. coli as
of June 12. Moreover, there have been 812 reported cases of HUS and
35 deaths.
Luminex received the European CE mark approval for xTAG GPP in
May 2011. Based on the company’s proprietary xMAP multiplexing
platform, the novel molecular test has been geared to
simultaneously detect 15 parasitic, bacterial and viral pathogens
(including E. coli) from a single sample and deliver results within
5 hours.
The xTAG GPP allows fast and simultaneous detection of 95% of
acute gastroenteritis pathogens. As such, patients infected with
STEC strain (or the outbreak strain) can be rapidly identified,
closely monitored and appropriately managed.
Luminex’s open-architecture xMAP technology enables fast,
cost-effective and accurate conduct and analysis of biological
tests.The company continues to expand its xMAP technology-based
installed instrument base.
However, Luminex operates in the highly competitive life
sciences industry, characterized by rapid and continuous
technological innovation. The company competes with
Affymetrix (AFFX) and Sequenom
(SQNM), among others.
Moreover, Luminex faces the challenge
of sluggish growth in its core markets, faces regulatory
uncertainties, and heavily depends on partners to market its
instruments and assays, a strategy that has inherent
risks. We are currently Neutral on the stock, which is in
agreement with a short-term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold).
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