OpGen’s Subsidiary Ares Genetics Commercially Launches New Sequencing and Analysis Services Globally

Rhea-AI Summary

OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN) has announced the launch of new genome sequencing and analysis services through its subsidiary, Ares Genetics. The services aim to enhance pathogen detection and microbiome profiling, responding to the WHO’s strategy for genomic surveillance. Key offerings include ARESid, which enables culture-free detection of microbes, and ARESiss Express, which reduces turnaround times for sequencing from over 30 days to five business days. Both services are available via the AREScloud platform, with U.S. services set to launch later in 2022.

Positive

• Launch of ARESid and ARESiss Express services expands OpGen's offerings.
• ARESiss Express reduces turnaround time for sequencing from over 30 days to five business days.
• Enhanced pathogen detection and microbiome profiling capabilities.

Negative

• None.

New services include pathogen identification, microbiome profiling and rapid turnaround sequencing of clinical isolates

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN, “OpGen”), a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and informatics to help combat infectious disease, announced today that its subsidiary, Ares Genetics (“Ares”), which strives to become a leader in bacterial genomics and AI-powered prediction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is commercially launching a series of new genome sequencing and analysis services globally. 

In March 2022, the WHO emphasized the critical importance of microbial genome sequencing for pandemic preparedness in its new 10-year strategy¹ for the global genomic surveillance of pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential. To help curb the global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogens, Ares Genetics is expanding its commercial offering of sequencing and analysis services aimed at clinical microbiologists and specialists in public health and infection prevention and control. The new services include ARESid and ARESiss Express.

ARESid enables accurate and comprehensive detection and surveillance of bacterial and fungal microbes in a culture-free fashion directly from native patient specimen or environmental samples. Due to the semi-quantitative nature of ARESid, the sequencing and analysis service is equally suitable for pathogen detection and for microbiome profiling applications.

ARESiss Express accelerates the company’s well-established platform for whole genome sequencing of clinical isolates. “We are delighted to respond to customer demand by introducing ARESiss Express,” said Dr. Arne Materna, CEO of Ares Genetics. “ARESiss Express builds on our clinically validated platform for whole genome sequencing of bacterial isolates but reduces turnaround times from ARESiss by more than 80% to five business days in order to enable microbiologists and epidemiologists to analyze and respond to local outbreaks in a timely manner.”

ARESiss Express reports include outbreak relevant information - for instance on pathogen identity and type - as well as actionable information on AMR, thanks to the company’s proprietary technology enabling the AI-powered prediction of antibiotic susceptibility and resistance directly from genomic data for a wide range of pathogen drug combinations.

ARESid and ARESiss Express sequencing results are accessible to customers via AREScloud, a web application for which the company plans to release a number of new features over the coming months.

Customers can submit orders for both sequencing services, to be performed at Ares Genetics’ service laboratory in Vienna, Austria. U.S.-based sequencing services will be launched later this year

Customers looking to enhance their data interpretation pipelines can access the AREScloud platform immediately by subscription to the service.

All Ares Genetics products and services are for research use only.

About OpGen, Inc. 
OpGen, Inc. (Rockville, MD, USA) is a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics to help combat infectious disease. Along with our 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 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

This press release includes statements regarding the launch of new services by Ares Genetics. 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, the success of our commercialization efforts, 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 fact that we may not effectively use proceeds from recent financings, the continued realization of expected benefits of our business combination transaction with Curetis GmbH, the continued 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 of the military action in Russia and Ukraine on our distributors, collaborators, and service providers, our liquidity and working capital requirements, 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.

1: World Health Organization, Global genomic surveillance strategy for pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential, 2022–2032. 32 (2022). ISBN: 9789240046979

OpGen:
Oliver Schacht
President and CEO
InvestorRelations@opgen.com

OpGen Press Contact:
Matthew Bretzius 
FischTank Marketing and PR
matt@fischtankpr.com

OpGen Investor Contact:
Alyssa Factor
Edison Group
afactor@edisongroup.com

FAQ

What new services did OpGen launch on April 20, 2022?

OpGen launched new genome sequencing and analysis services, including ARESid and ARESiss Express, through its subsidiary Ares Genetics.

How does ARESiss Express improve on previous offerings?

ARESiss Express reduces the turnaround time for whole genome sequencing from over 30 days to just five business days.

What is the aim of these new services launched by OpGen?

These services aim to enhance pathogen detection and microbiome profiling to combat antimicrobial resistance and support public health.

When will U.S.-based sequencing services be launched by OpGen?

U.S.-based sequencing services are expected to launch later in 2022.

What technology underlies the new services offered by OpGen?

The new services use AI-powered prediction of antimicrobial resistance and genomic data analysis.