OpGen’s Subsidiary Curetis Meets Milestones in Collaborative Research Project with InfectoGnostics

Rhea-AI Summary

OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN) announced the completion of two interim milestones in its PREPLEX project, part of the InfectoGnostics Research Campus in Jena, Germany. The total project volume is approximately $0.9 million. The milestones focus on AI-powered assay development for detecting carbapenemase resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, with specific biomarkers identified in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Dr. Gerd Luedke from Curetis emphasized the significance of these discoveries in combating antimicrobial resistance. The success of this collaboration may lead to additional funding opportunities for OpGen in the future.

Positive

• Completion of two interim milestones in the PREPLEX project.
• Identification of novel biomarkers for antimicrobial resistance.
• Potential for additional funding opportunities in the future.

Negative

• None.

• PREPLEX project is part of broader InfectoGnostics Research Campus in Jena, Germany
• Total project volume of PREPLEX collaborative research is approximately $ 0.9 Mio

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN, “OpGen” or “the Company”), a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics to help combat infectious disease, reported today that it has completed two interim milestones as part of its collaboration project with InfectoGnostics under the PREPLEX grant. The InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena is a public-private partnership breaking new ground in the diagnosis of infections. More than 30 partners from science, medicine and industry are jointly developing novel solutions for fast and cost-effective diagnostics of infectious diseases.

Funded as part of the PREPLEX project, the two specific interim milestones now completed contribute to the project collaboration focused on artificial intelligence (AI) powered assay development for phenotypic carbapenemase resistance in Gram negative bacteria.

Following sample collection over the course of one year, various testing methods to detect carbapenemase resistance were evaluated during this phase of the collaboration. Novel markers were identified for phenotypic carbapenemase resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two of the pathogens of concern on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list. These markers were also confirmed and validated using the proprietary ARESdb database at OpGen’s subsidiary Ares Genetics in Vienna, Austria. The Ares team applied its unique machine learning (ML) and AI capabilities to support the research project.

Dr. Gerd Luedke, Director Innovation, Technology and IP at OpGen’s subsidiary Curetis commented: “We are excited to complete several key milestones in this joint research collaboration. We believe that the discovery of novel biomarkers for antimicrobial resistance will be crucial in developing novel cutting-edge tools to fight the ever-growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and enhance antibiotic stewardship in our hospitals. And seeing the AI that our colleagues at Ares have developed successfully validate the research work is extremely gratifying. This success could open up the potential for additional collaborative work being conducted under the PREPLEX project which could provide additional funding of a few hundred thousand dollars to OpGen’s Curetis research team in the coming years.”

About OpGen, Inc. 

OpGen, Inc. (Rockville, Md., U.S.A.) 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 current product portfolio includes Unyvero, Acuitas AMR Gene Panel, and the ARES Technology Platform including ARESdb, NGS technology and AI-powered bioinformatics solutions for antibiotic response prediction including ARESiss, ARESid, ARESasp, and AREScloud, as well as the Curetis CE-IVD-marked PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 test kit.

For more information, please visit www.opgen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements regarding the Company’s PREPLEX research collaboration project with InfectoGnostics. 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 impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operations, financial results, and commercialization efforts as well as on capital markets and general economic conditions, our ability to satisfy debt obligations under our loan with the European Investment Bank, 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, our ability to realize any anticipated benefits from the reverse stock split, including maintaining its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and attracting new investors, 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:
Oliver Schacht
President and CEO
InvestorRelations@opgen.com

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

FAQ

What are the milestones completed in the PREPLEX project by OpGen?

OpGen completed two interim milestones focused on AI-powered assay development for detecting carbapenemase resistance in Gram-negative bacteria.

How much funding is allocated to the PREPLEX project?

The total project volume for the PREPLEX collaborative research is approximately $0.9 million.

What pathogens were targeted by OpGen's research in the PREPLEX project?

The research focused on Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

What is the significance of the biomarkers discovered in the PREPLEX project?

The discovered biomarkers are crucial for developing tools to combat antimicrobial resistance and enhance antibiotic stewardship.

What is the potential for future funding from the PREPLEX project?

The success of the collaboration may open up the potential for additional funding opportunities amounting to a few hundred thousand dollars for OpGen.