WASHINGTON, DC, Jul 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
AACC Annual Meeting - Seegene's Seeplex(R) Sepsis multi-pathogen
screening test introduced today at the 2008 Annual Meeting and Clinical
Lab Expo of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) brings
a novel and fast-acting diagnostic technique for hospitals to
simultaneously verify a complex range of targets that indicate sepsis,
the leading cause of death in non-coronary intensive care units worldwide.
This killing disease leaves a muddy footprint providing no clear track
back to the initial indications, which may have been Gram-positive
bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria or one of eight fungi.
The results are devastating with 18 million cases of severe sepsis
reported each year at a cost of over $35 billion. More tragic is the fact
that sepsis causes shock, coma, or death for patients who entered a
hospital to be treated for a completely unrelated health condition.
The medical problem is determining the correct treatment during the first
days of the disease. Currently physicians and clinicians need to choose
among several tests with little confidence the results will definitely
identify that a patient does or does not have the disease. Alternatively,
a multiple-phase blood culture test covering a range of specific targets
can be ordered, though it is an expensive process requiring time against a
disease that quickly takes hold and rapidly deteriorates a patient's
condition.
The Seeplex(R) Sepsis Test from Seegene is a single lab test that quickly
determines the levels of suspected targets in a patient's blood sample to
better inform the diagnosis and create an opportunity for quickly applying
an appropriate treatment to head off the disease.
In a recent clinical study in Korea, the Seeplex testing approach
demonstrated higher sensitivity than the blood culture test methodology.
Out of 370 hospital patients suspected of having sepsis, 53 patients
tested positive using the Seeplex Sepsis Test while 32 patients tested
positive using the blood culture method.
Of additional significance to those on the front lines of disease control
was the fact that the Seeplex Test identified those higher rates of
infection on the same day that blood samples were taken. This is in
contrast to blood culture which took 3-4 days to return test results.
The Seeplex Sepsis Test simultaneously screens for 64 sepsis-causing
pathogens: 48 Gram (+) bacteria, 10 Gram (-) bacteria, and 6 fungi.
Additionally, four drug resistant genes (vanA, vanB, mecA, and blaSHV) can
also be discriminated. The Seeplex Sepsis Test requires only 0.4 ml of
patient's whole blood and provides test results in five hours.
"The Seeplex(R) Sepsis DNA test is a fundamental breakthrough for
accurate, rapid and cost-effective sepsis diagnostics," said Jong-Yoon
Chun, chief executive officer of Seegene. "We believe the Seeplex testing
system opens a new window for not only saving lives but also furthering
understanding of this complex disease by providing precise information of
infected pathogens at the earliest possible stage."
The cost of the test is significantly lower than any other methods in the
market. Not only will it help improve patient management in terms of
expenses and time but also reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics,
resulting in appropriate treatment to head off sepsis at the earliest
possible stage of disease development.
Seeplex Sepsis Test is not for diagnostic procedures in the USA and will
not be available in the USA pending regulatory approval.
The novel technique behind the new test technique is Seegene's proprietary
DPO(TM) (dual priming oligonucleotide) primer system that amplifies DNA
sequence using established polymerase chain reaction (PCR) but more
rapidly screens for targeted bacteria generating consistently high PCR
specificity while preserving a sensitivity as high as that of single PCR.
About Seegene
Seegene, Inc. is a biotechnology company specialized in molecular
diagnostics and research applications. It holds a novel detection platform
named "Seeplex(R)," which sets a standard in high-throughput and
simultaneous multi-pathogen detection called "multiplexing." Seeplex(R)
technology accurately detects multi-pathogens with high-throughput speed,
ultimately providing the most economical basis for saving time, labor and
cost. Seegene develops, manufactures and markets innovative molecular
diagnostic products and services to a worldwide community. The company has
more than 47 distributors in 28 countries, including 2 subsidiary offices
in the US and Japan. Its mission is to maintain leadership in molecular
diagnostics for infectious diseases, genetics, pharmacogenetics, and
oncology, and chromosomal analyses using innovative proprietary
technologies. For more information please visit www.seegene.com or call
+301-762-9066.
Contacts:
Sang-Kil Lee, Ph.D.
Seegene Inc.
301-762-9066
Email Contact
or
Constantine Theodoropulos
Boston Communications
617-292-7319
Email Contact
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