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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2010
Flagstaff, AZ
PathoGene licenses MRSA technology from TGen
PathoGene, LLC - a Flagstaff-based molecular diagnostics company located in the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies (NACET) - has licensed technology from The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) for detecting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and uncovering critical genetic information about this “super bug’s” resistance to antibiotics. PathoGene is developing and validating assays for clinical use that will provide physicians with information essential to the timely and accurate treatment of these infections. PathoGene’s assays have the potential to dramatically improve patient care, reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics, and lower healthcare costs associated with treating life-threatening infections like MRSA.
The technology licensed from TGen looks at MRSA’s genetic code in order to identify its presence in patient specimens. This assay is highly sensitive and specific to the MRSA bacteria and the mutations that make it resistant to certain antibiotics and particularly difficult to treat. The licensing of this technology supports PathoGene’s strategy of developing novel molecular diagnostic assays for infectious diseases that improve patient care and lower healthcare costs.
“Given the growing incidence of MRSA infections worldwide, the increasing resistance to antibiotics, and the high cost of treating these infections, diagnostics that can provide earlier and better information to the treating physician will have a significant global impact” said Dr. Paul Keim. Dr Keim is Director of the Pathogen Genomics Division of TGen and is a Regents Professor and holder of the Cowden Endowed Chair in Microbiology at NAU. He is internationally known for his work in human pathogen epidemiology using DNA identification techniques and has been instrumental in producing the scientific discoveries underlying PathoGene’s business model and the MRSA assay. MRSA is responsible for over 250,000 infections per year, 20,000 deaths (more than are caused by HIV/AIDs) and approximately $50B dollars in healthcare costs in the US alone. While many of these infections are acquired in hospitals or other healthcare facilities, MRSA can also be found “at large” in the community - including schools, athletic facilities and jails. MRSA is a challenging infection to treat because of its potential resistance to multiple antibiotics. As a result, new diagnostic tools that enhance the rapid understanding of a specific patient’s resistance profile are of great potential benefit. This information could also improve the type and timing of the medical intervention, making it more targeted to individual patient needs and saving lives.
In addition the MRSA technology, PathoGene has already licensed technology for Influenza (including H1N1) and is pursuing other licensing opportunities including Valley Fever. PathoGene targets infectious diseases where treatment is currently difficult and drug resistance is a growing problem.
Contact Information:
PathoGene LLC
2225 N. Gemini Drive, Suite E-11
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Phone: 928-863-3248
Email: Pathogene Press Releases
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