DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One of the biggest barriers to delivering rapid diagnosis and care during a biological outbreak is about to be eliminated, said Lyle L. Probst, President, CEO and Founder of PositiveID Corporation’s (OTCQB:PSID) ExcitePCR subsidiary.
When asked what makes ExcitePCR’s FireflyDX™ technologies different than other pathogen detection solutions, Probst said, “Sample preparation takes place inside our FireflyDX systems, which means our customers can go from sample capture to answer in 30 minutes or less. On top of that, the FireflyDX devices are small, portable PCR-based units which can be used virtually anywhere around the world. These are just some of the things that set our pathogen detection systems apart from other solutions.”
Later Probst explained, “The reason why this is important is because whenever we experience the beginnings of an outbreak, such as Zika, Ebola, influenza or any other biohazard, rapid identification of who is or isn’t infected is crucial to delivering proper treatment and minimizing the spread of an infectious disease. But one of the biggest barriers to delivering rapid care is (and always has been) preparing samples so they can be tested, quickly and accurately. And this is especially a problem in the field at the Point-of-Care/Point-of-Need. This is the issue we address with our new FireflyDX technologies.”
Probst delivered a brief presentation and answered questions yesterday as a member of a BioWatch panel discussion, officially titled “Novel Technologies to Expand Capabilities,” about current and future advancements in pathogen detection systems, hosted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS).
Panel participants shared several insights on recent advancements in the pathogen detection field that had recently come to market or were on the near horizon. Case in point, Probst pointed to ExcitePCR’s FireflyDX technology platform, which utilizes a patented microfluidic-based cartridge that incorporates on-board sample preparation as part of ExcitePCR’s polymerase chain reaction-based pathogen detection systems.
“We’ve already shown in-lab comparability to the ABI 7500 with our FireflyDX for pathogens ranging from MRSA to swine flu, as well as when detecting other bio-threats like anthrax or when looking for the presence of genetically modified foods (GMOs),” Probst said. “The difference we believe the FireflyDX products will deliver is the ability to incorporate sample prep within the entire PCR process. This allows caregivers, first responders, animal health workers and others to have extremely accurate results within 30 minutes or less from the moment of sample capture to PCR-derived results.” {NOTE: Thermo Fisher Scientific’s ABI 7500 is viewed by most industry professionals as the “gold standard” for benchtop-based PCR testing.}
For example, Probst explained, ExcitePCR’s FireflyDX technologies have been evaluated and/or tested for pathogen detection by a number of client organizations and partners, including
• As a “Performer” with ENSCO and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology SenseNet Program, with the FireflyDX selected as the “designated SenseNet confirmation detector,” a program that just completed Phase II A;
• GenArraytion which demonstrated that the breadboard prototype of the FireflyDX accurately and rapidly detected the Zika virus using GenArraytion’s PCR assay for Zika;
• A Pilot Study with seqID that utilized the FireflyDX to accurately test for the presence of GMO corn and soybean at concentrations ranging from 10.0 to 0.0 percent, a pilot study that generated comparable results to those produced by the ABI 7500, test results shared via “Invited Presentations” to the
- Analytic Excellence through Industry Collaboration (AEIC)
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); and by an
• Independent third-party laboratory that conducted a comprehensive on-site review and evaluation of the FireflyDX’s technologies, capabilities and accuracy, which concluded that ExcitePCR’s pathogen detection system performed comparably to the ABI 7500.
Last month ExcitePCR announced a FireflyDX family of portable pathogen detection systems, led by its FireflyDX-Portable™, a rechargeable, bookbag-sized, realtime pathogen detection system the company expects will be commercially available in summer 2018. In addition, ExcitePCR also announced that it plans commercial availability in 2019 for a smaller pathogen detection device that can be held in a single hand, a system the company has named the FireflyDX-Handheld™.
About PositiveID Corporation
PositiveID Corporation is a holding company focused on life sciences, diagnostics, mobile laboratories, and medical devices. PositiveID’s ExcitePCR subsidiary is developing the FireflyDX family of pathogen detection systems, portable devices offering rapid sample-to-result detection in less than 30 minutes using real-time polymerase chain reaction chemistry. PositiveID’s E-N-G Mobile Systems™ subsidiary is a leader in the mobile technology vehicle market, with a focus on the laboratory market and homeland security. PositiveID’s Thermomedics™ subsidiary markets the FDA-cleared Caregiver® non-contact thermometer for clinical use. For more information on PositiveID, please visit http://www.psidcorp.com, or connect with PositiveID on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
On August 24, 2017, PositiveID Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary PositiveID Diagnostics, Inc. (collectively, the “Seller”), entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) with ExcitePCR Corporation. Pursuant to the APA, at closing, the Seller will sell and deliver to ExcitePCR all assets used in connection with the operation of the FireflyDX technology. For more information on the APA, please read PositiveID’s Form 8-K filed on August 28, 2017, which can be found here.
Statements about PositiveID's future expectations, including the likelihood that one of the biggest barriers to delivering rapid diagnosis and care during a biological outbreak is about to be eliminated; the likelihood that ExcitePCR’s customers can go from sample capture to answer in 30 minutes or less; the likelihood that the FireflyDX devices are small, portable PCR-based units which can be used virtually anywhere around the world; the likelihood that difference the FireflyDX products will deliver is the ability to incorporate sample prep within the entire PCR process; the likelihood that this allows caregivers, first responders, animal health workers and others to have extremely accurate results within 30 minutes or less from the moment of sample capture to PCR-derived results; the likelihood that the FireflyDX-Portable will be commercially available in the summer of 2018; the likelihood that the FireflyDX-Handheld will be commercially available in 2019; the likelihood that pursuant to the APA, at closing, the Seller will sell and deliver to ExcitePCR all assets used in connection with the operation of the FireflyDX technology; constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and PositiveID's actual results could differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, ExcitePCR’s ability to complete a financing of at least $3 million; PositiveID’s and ExcitePCR’s ability to close the asset purchase agreement among PositiveID, PositiveID Diagnostics, and ExcitePCR; PositiveID’s ability to attract new customers and partners; PositiveID’s ability to raise capital; ExcitePCR’s ability to complete the development and commercialization of the FireflyDX-Portable and FireflyDX-Handheld; as well as other risks. Additional information about these and other factors that could affect the Company's business is set forth in the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in the Company's 10-K filed on March 31, 2017, and 10-Qs filed on August 14, 2017, May 15, 2017, and November 18, 2016, under the caption "Risk Factors." The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.