Semiconductor Analysis Test to Address Challenge of Sepsis

DNAe, the inventor of semiconductor based genomic analysis technologies, has previewed its LiDia™ bloodstream infection (BSI) test at the ‘Technology vs Infectious Diseases’ Summit held at the Royal Institution in London.

Sepsis kills around 6 million people worldwide every year. In the UK alone the number reaches 44,000 which is more than bowel, breast, and prostate cancer combined. Treatment in the early stages is crucial so there is an urgent need for early diagnosis through rapid tests.

Organized by Imperial College and the Royal Institution (Ri), the Summit highlights the best of British technology in the fight against the global threat of infectious diseases. An afternoon of presentations showcasing how cutting-edge UK research and pioneering technological solutions are contributing to tackling infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance worldwide. An evening event featuring a keynote address by Prof David Heymann, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Head of the Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House, London; and former Chairman of Public Health England, UK.

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DNAe’s Chief Scientific Officer, Mr. David Davidson, presented during the Summit program on ‘Infectious Disease Diagnostics using Third Generation Sequencing on a Microchip’.

Professor Chris Toumazou, Regius Professor of Engineering at Imperial College, Trustee of the Royal Institution, and Founder and Executive Chairman of DNAe, commented: “It is an honor to be pioneering ground-breaking third generation semiconductor DNA analysis technology. We are especially pleased to preview our breakthrough genomic analysis test for diagnosis of bloodstream infections, at the historic Ri building – where Michael Faraday undertook his experiments around semiconductor properties, and where the father of antibiotics, Alexander Fleming, presented to the Ri in 1953. Innovation is a long road, so it’s exciting to be close to launch with a world-leading technology that has the potential to transform the clinical management of sepsis.”

DNAe’s LiDia™ BSI is a rapid test for serious bloodstream infections leading to sepsis. At launch, the LiDia™ BSI Test is designed to enable the precise identification of the infecting organism directly from an unprocessed blood sample within 3 hours, arming clinicians with the information that they need to provide swift treatment with the right antimicrobial drugs. Quick and appropriate treatment is the key to achieving the best prognosis for patients. Currently accurate diagnosis can take several days.

“DNAe is currently testing our end-to-end LiDia™ BSI test using clinical samples and will be presenting results at the Association for Molecular Pathology meeting (AMP) in Salt Lake City, USA in November. The Company plans to apply for CE mark approval in 2018, to enable us to bring this urgently needed test to market in Europe” said DNAe’s Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. Steve Allen.

Underlining the world-leading nature of DNAe’s innovation and the game-changing nature of its semiconductor DNA genomic analysis technologies, the US BARDA has awarded the company up to $51.9m to develop its sequencing platform for rapid diagnosis in two key applications; antimicrobial resistant infections and influenza. The Company is also exploring applications in diagnosis of cancer from liquid biopsies.

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