OpGen Collaborates With Merck to Develop Novel Rapid Diagnostics and Informatics Tools to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
November 14 2016 - 7:00AM
OpGen, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPGN) today announced it has entered into a
research collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside the United
States and Canada, to develop new rapid diagnostics and information
technology products to help combat the threat of antimicrobial
resistance. The companies will collaborate to support OpGen’s
development of rapid DNA tests and a genomic knowledgebase of
antibiotic-resistant pathogens for predicting antibiotic
susceptibility based on test results.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will provide access to
its archive of over 200,000 bacterial pathogens gathered over the
last 15 years through the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial
Resistance Trends (SMART), one of the world’s largest surveillance
studies of antimicrobial resistance supported by Merck in
collaboration with International Health Management Associates
(IHMA). OpGen will perform genomic analysis, microbiology testing
for drug resistance, and incorporate this information into its
Acuitas® Lighthouse Knowledgebase and the development of rapid DNA
tests. This new molecular testing and informatics approach is being
developed to help transform antibiotic decision making for doctors
managing acute care patients with blood, respiratory, urinary
tract, and soft tissue infections. In addition to identifying
resistance determinants to predict antibiotic failures, the OpGen
technology is being evaluated as the foundation for utilizing
molecular diagnostic tests to predict pathogen susceptibility and
guide patient management choices to improve patient outcomes.
“This collaboration builds upon the promise of our DNA-based
genetic tests, Lighthouse Knowledgebase and antibiotic resistance
decision making tools to make a significant impact on hospital
infections,” said Evan Jones, chairman and CEO of OpGen. “Access to
Merck’s SMART surveillance network data has the potential to
greatly accelerate our internal development efforts in validating
our rapid diagnostic tools and bolster data acquisition for our
Lighthouse Knowledgebase.”
Recent studies have indicated that antimicrobial resistant
infections currently claim 50,000 lives each year across the United
States and Europe alone, with many hundreds of thousands more dying
in other areas of the world. In September, world leaders at the
United Nations called rising antimicrobial resistance a fundamental
threat to human health, development, and security. As a result, for
the first time, Heads of State committed to taking a broad,
coordinated approach to combat rising antimicrobial resistance
including the development of new medicines and rapid
diagnostics.
“Rapid diagnostics for pathogen identification and antibiotic
susceptibility testing are central to developing global solutions
for antimicrobial resistance,” said Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice
president, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Clinical Development,
Merck Research Laboratories. “By providing OpGen with access to our
archive of bacterial pathogens, we hope to expedite the development
of rapid diagnostic tests and enable prompt and informed antibiotic
prescribing to improve patient outcomes.”
OpGen will initially perform molecular analyses on up to 10,000
pathogens to identify markers of resistance to support rapid
decision making using the Acuitas Lighthouse® MDRO Management
System (“Lighthouse Portal”), and to speed development of OpGen’s
rapid diagnostic platforms. OpGen’s Lighthouse Portal and
Knowledgebase are being developed to provide antibiotic stewardship
and tracking information for drug resistant pathogens in hospitals
and health systems. Merck will gain access to the high-resolution
genotype data for the SMART isolates as well as access to OpGen’s
Lighthouse Portal to support internal research and development
programs.
About the SMART StudyThe Study for Monitoring
Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) was initiated by Merck in
2002 to monitor the in vitro susceptibility of clinical
isolates to 12 commonly used antibiotics in different regions of
the world to survey changing trends in antibiotic susceptibility.
SMART currently monitors antibiotic activity against gram-negative
bacteria isolated from two common types of infection:
intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections. Isolates have been
collected from patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections
since 2002 and from patients with complicated urinary tract
infections since 2010. In 2016, Merck anticipates that more than
41,000 isolates will be collected.
This research agreement is executed between OpGen and Merck
Sharp & Dohme Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck &
Co. Inc. The Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, a venture capital
arm of Merck, is an investor in OpGen Inc.
About OpGenOpGen, Inc. is harnessing
the power of informatics and genomic analysis to provide complete
solutions for patient, hospital and network-wide infection
prevention and treatment. Learn more at www.opgen.com and
follow OpGen on Twitter and LinkedIn.
OpGen, Acuitas, Acuitas Lighthouse and QuickFISH are
registered trademarks of OpGen, Inc.
OpGen Contact:
Michael Farmer
Director, Marketing
240-813-1284
mfarmer@opgen.com
InvestorRelations@opgen.com
OpGen Investor and Media Contact:
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Cammy Duong
781-591-3443
cduong@macbiocom.com
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