Collaborative Research by OpGen Group Company Ares Genetics and Johns Hopkins Researchers Demonstrates Potential of Next-Gene...
September 16 2020 - 7:30AM
OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN, “OpGen”), announced today that
scientists at its subsidiary Ares Genetics GmbH (Vienna, Austria;
“Ares Genetics”), in collaboration with researchers from the Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine, have published a
peer-reviewed study on modifiable risk factors for the emergence of
ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance in P. aeruginosa in the journal
Clinical Infectious Diseases.
P. aeruginosa is listed by the World Health
Organization as critical priority pathogen. To overcome
antimicrobial resistance, ceftolozane-tazobactam has been
introduced as a novel β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combination
agent and received initial U.S. FDA approval in 2014. While
pre-clinical investigations indicated ceftolozane-tazobactam
activity against approximately 85%-95% of U.S. and Canadian
carbapenem-non-susceptible P. aeruginosa isolates, soon after the
clinical introduction of ceftolozane-tazobactam, reports of
resistance during therapy emerged.
The study published in Clinical Infectious
Diseases sought to understand mechanisms of resistance leading to
ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance, the frequency of
cross-resistance between ceftolozane-tazobactam and other novel
beta-lactam beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations and identify
modifiable risk factors that may slow or prevent the acquisition of
ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance. Findings demonstrate the
potential of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to investigate
mechanisms of resistance by analyzing whole-genome sequencing data
from P. aeruginosa isolates that developed resistance under
treatment with ceftolozane-tazobactam. Mutations identified in
ceftolozane-tazobactam resistant isolates involved, amongst others,
AmpC, a known binding site for ceftolozane, PBP3, the target of
ceftolozane, and DNA polymerase. The researchers propose extending
ceftolozane-tazobactam infusions as a potential protective measure
against acquired mutational resistance.
The present study is the result of an ongoing
collaboration between Ares Genetics and the Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, with the goal of investigating the
diagnostic potential of NGS for antimicrobial susceptibility
testing. Earlier this year, Dr. Patricia Simner of Johns Hopkins
Medicine and Ares Genetics presented results from a study assessing
the potential of long-read sequencing to predict antimicrobial
susceptibility results at the online ASM Microbe 2020 meeting.
Dr. Andreas Posch, CEO Ares Genetics and
co-author of both studies, commented, “While we have already shown
that NGS allows for CLIA-compliant identification of bacterial
pathogens and antimicrobial resistance markers as well as accurate
prediction of phenotypic resistance in previous publications, the
present studies further underline the diagnostic value of NGS as
well as the need for rapid antimicrobial resistance testing and
improving antibiotic treatment regiments. I am particularly excited
about our joint work on using long-read sequencing technology for
phenotype prediction as this technology could potentially allow for
molecular antibiotic susceptibility testing directly from native
patient samples in just a few hours.”
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 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 by
OpGen
This press release includes statements regarding
studies and publications of OpGen’s subsidiary Ares Genetics GmbH.
These statements and other statements regarding OpGen’s 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 realization of expected benefits of our
business combination transaction with Curetis GmbH, 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 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 Schacht CEO
InvestorRelations@opgen.com
Press Contact: Matthew Bretzius FischTank
Marketing and PR matt@fischtankpr.com
Investor Contact: Megan Paul Edison Group
mpaul@edisongroup.com
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