Accelr8 Presents Data on Rapid Identification of New KPC “Superbug” and Other Multi-Resistant Pathogens
May 28 2009 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Accelr8 Technology Corporation (NYSE Amex: AXK) presented
new data at the 109th General Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology (ASM) in Philadelphia. Company scientists and their
collaborators from the Washington University in St. Louis School of
Medicine (Barnes-Jewish Hospital) reported results for Accelr8�s
rapid test for identifying organisms that produce the new �KPC�
antibiotic-destroying enzyme. KPC is the first rapidly spreading
resistance enzyme to emerge that attacks all members of the largest
and most important antibiotic super-family. The family includes a
group of drugs known as carbapenems, sometimes called
�gorillacillin� by hospital staff because they attack a broad
spectrum of otherwise resistant organisms. Because of their
importance, physicians prefer to reserve these drugs unless other
antibiotics fail.
KPC tends to occur in organisms that are likely to express
resistance against most other antibiotic classes. By attacking
carbapenems, KPC eliminates a critical fall-back antibiotic class
and may render its host bacteria resistant to all but a last-resort
antibiotic. KPC emerged recently and spread quickly in North
America, then jumped to other continents, and is now spreading into
more bacterial species.
The new study used recent clinical isolates from Barnes-Jewish
Hospital. KPC has quickly increased in St. Louis to make it an
urgent threat.
Another part of the presentation reported additional results
from a collaborative study with the Denver Health Medical Center on
new tests for two additional multi-drug resistant bacteria,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Using the
company�s BACcel� laboratory prototypes in three different
laboratories, the new analyses yielded accurate results in less
than 3 hours, as opposed to the 2-3 days required for
culturing.
According to David Howson, Accelr8�s president, �The new tests
join our previously reported rapid identification and drug
resistance tests for the worst multi-resistant organisms found in
the ICU. We believe that the KPC test is particularly important
because of KPC�s explosive spread and the difficulty of even
identifying these organisms using standard methods. We continue to
demonstrate fast, consistent performance with the most deadly
pathogens responsible for hospital-acquired infections.�
Finally, the company also announced issuance of a new OptiChem�
patent, US 7,501,157 for hydroxyl functional coatings.
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 a rapid analytical platform
for infectious pathogens, the BACcel� system, 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.
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