OpGen Announces Award of German Government Grant Funding to its Subsidiary Curetis and Collaborators
September 30 2020 - 6:30AM
OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN, “OpGen”), a precision medicine company
harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics to
help combat infectious disease, announced today the award of a
German Federal Government grant to its subsidiary, Curetis GmbH,
and collaborators at the Research Campus InfectoGnostics. The
project is coordinated by Jena University Hospital and designed to
use artificial intelligence (AI) based assay development for
carbapenem-resistance based on porin loss and efflux pump
overexpression in Gram-negative bacteria.
Specifically, the project expected to start in September 2020
and run until August 2025 with overall funding of more than 350
thousand Euros provided by Federal German Ministry of Education and
Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung BMBF) to
Curetis alone, is aimed to make novel molecular diagnostics
available for relevant resistance mechanisms against Carbapenems.
Furthermore, the project aims to address resistance mechanisms in
difficult-to-treat Gram-negative pathogens such as Enterobacteria,
Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. Curetis’ role during the
collaborative research project is to provide research on innovative
detection methods for carbapenem resistance based on porin loss and
efflux pump overexpression.
Dr. Gerd Luedke, Director Innovation, Technology and IP at
Curetis GmbH commented, “Carbapenems are last-resort antibiotics
for treatment of patients infected with Gram-negative bacteria that
show resistance against Cephalosporins. Resistance is often
conferred by mechanisms such as porin loss or efflux pump
overexpression, not adequately covered by current diagnostics. We
are therefore excited to contribute novel approaches to the fight
against antimicrobial resistance in such hospital superbugs.”
Dr. Oliwia Makarewicz, scientist with the Institute for
Infectious Diseases and Infection Control at Jena University
Hospital and leader of the project, emphasizes its
interdisciplinary character, “Here, we combine molecular genetics,
bioinformatics and AI based methods. That innovative approach will
foster the outcome of the project as well as the scientific career
options of the young researchers working within.”
Prof. Dr. Juergen Popp, Speaker of the
InfectoGnostics Managing Board, added “We are pleased to start this
new collaboration with Curetis, one of the leaders in rapid,
cartridge-based multiplex PCR testing. This project will be a good
example of direct co-working between academia, clinical medicine
and industry to address medical needs through improved diagnostics
with regard to antimicrobial resistances.”
About OpGen, Inc.
OpGen, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD, USA) is a
precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular
diagnostics and bioinformatics to help combat infectious disease.
Along with its subsidiaries, Curetis GmbH and Ares Genetics GmbH,
we are developing and commercializing molecular microbiology
solutions helping to guide clinicians with more rapid and
actionable information about life threatening infections to improve
patient outcomes, and decrease the spread of infections caused by
multidrug-resistant microorganisms, or MDROs. OpGen’s product
portfolio includes Unyvero, Acuitas AMR Gene Panel and Acuitas®
Lighthouse, and the ARES Technology Platform including ARESdb,
using NGS technology and AI-powered bioinformatics solutions for
antibiotic response prediction.
For more information, please visit
www.opgen.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements regarding
the receipt of a grant from the German government by Curetis GmbH.
These statements and other statements regarding OpGen’s products,
their commercialization and launch, 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,
our ability to successfully, timely and cost-effectively develop,
seek and obtain regulatory clearance for and commercialize our
product and services offerings, the rate of adoption of our
products and services by hospitals and other healthcare providers,
the success of our commercialization efforts, the impact of
COVID-19 on the Company’s operations, financial results, and
commercialization efforts as well as on capital markets and general
economic conditions, the realization of expected benefits of our
business combination transaction with Curetis GmbH, 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. 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.
OpGen Contact:Oliver
SchachtCEOInvestorRelations@opgen.com
Press Contact:Matthew
BretziusFischTank Marketing and PRmatt@fischtankpr.com
Investor Contact:Megan
PaulEdison Groupmpaul@edisongroup.com
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