NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nanosphere, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSPH), a company enhancing medicine through targeted and flexible molecular diagnostics, announced that new clinical data for the Verigene® Gram-Positive (BC-GP) and Gram-Negative (BC-GN) Blood Culture Tests for rapid sepsis diagnostics were presented during Sepsis Awareness Month at the 55th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), held last week in San Diego, CA.
Four of the five studies presented at ICAAC 2015 included an analysis of the impact of Verigene BC-GP and/or BC-GN on patient outcomes. Results from each of these studies showed a reduction in patient length-of-stay in the hospital or ICU, reduction in the time to organism identification, and reduction in time to optimal therapy.
Verigene studies presented at ICAAC included:
- Outcomes Associated with the Utilization of Rapid Diagnostic Technology and Pharmacist Intervention in the Management of Gram-Negative Bacteremia – This pre/post implementation study sought to determine the clinical and economic impact from implementing Verigene BC-GN paired with pharmacist intervention. Implementation led to a 40-hour reduction in time to optimal therapy, 9.4-hour reduction in time to effective therapy, and 0.9-day hospital length-of-stay reduction. The study was conducted at Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI) and led by A. Gibble.
- Impact of a Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Test and Antimicrobial Stewardship on Time to Optimal Therapy in Bacteremic Patients – This pre/post implementation study looked at the clinical impact from implementing Verigene BC-GP and BC-GN in combination with antimicrobial stewardship team intervention. Use of BC-GP and BC-GN with stewardship intervention led to a 25-hour reduction in time to organism identification, 32-hour reduction in time to optimal therapy, and a 3-day intensive care unit (ICU) length-of-stay reduction. The study was conducted at Mercy Medical Center and Drake University (Des Moines, IA) and led by G. Tallman.
- Comparison Between Nanosphere Verigene BC-GP and PNA FISH Testing on the Treatment of Staphylococcus-related Bloodstream Infections (BSI) – This study sought to determine the additional clinical and economic impact from use of Verigene BC-GP when compared to use of peptide nucleic acid-fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH) for patients with Staphylococcal bloodstream infections. BC-GP improved the time to organism identification, resistance detection, and optimal therapy by 6.2 hours, 5.5 hours, and 9.7 hours, respectively. Length of stay was reduced by 3.4 days for patients with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus infections and 1.9 days for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. The study was conducted at Lee Memorial Health System (Fort Myers, FL) and led by J.C. Cho.
- Evaluation of Verigene BC-GN for Identification of Gram Negative Bacteria and Detection of Resistance to Beta-Lactams Including Carbapenems from Solid Media – This study looked at the performance of Verigene BC-GN for the detection of gram-negative bacteria and a broad range of multi-drug resistance genes from bacterial isolates grown on solid media. The positive predictive value of BC-GN was 100% for both bacterial identification and resistance gene detection. The negative predictive value of BC-GN was 97% for resistance gene detection. This study was conducted at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland VA Medical Center (Cleveland, OH) and led by M.R. Jacobs.
- Verigene Use in the Management of Patients with Gram Negative Bloodstream Infections – This study found that implementation of Verigene BC-GN in combination with antimicrobial stewardship team communication of test results led to a day reduction in the duration of empiric therapy and a statistically significant reduction of wide-spectrum empirical antimicrobial consumption (DDD 132.4 vs 286.5). The study was conducted at Sant'Orsola – Malpighi University Hospital (Bologna, Italy) and led by S. Tedeschi.
About the Verigene® System
The Verigene System uses Nanosphere's core proprietary gold nanoparticle chemistry to offer highly sensitive, highly specific molecular diagnostic results through low-cost multiplexing. The Verigene System rapidly and accurately detects infectious pathogens and drug resistance markers by targeting conserved genetic regions of a bacterium or virus. Currently, the multiplexed Verigene assays target infections of the bloodstream, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. The information gathered from Verigene test results enables clinicians to make informed patient treatment decisions more quickly, which may result in improved patient outcomes, reduced costs, optimized antibiotic therapy, and reduced spread of antibiotic resistance.
About Sepsis Awareness Month
September is Sepsis Awareness Month. Sepsis, a life-threatening disease commonly complicated by antimicrobial resistance, is responsible for 1.6 million hospitalizations and nearly 200,000 deaths per year in the U.S., costing the U.S. healthcare system more than $20 billion per year. Risk of death for sepsis patients increases by 7.6% for each hour appropriate treatment is delayed. As a result, rapid and accurate identification of infection-causing bacteria and their resistance to commonly used antibiotics is the first step toward ensuring that patients receive the right therapy at the right time.
About Nanosphere, Inc.
Nanosphere is enhancing medicine through targeted molecular diagnostics that result in earlier disease detection, optimal patient treatment and improved healthcare economics. The Company's versatile technology platform, the Verigene® System, enables clinicians to rapidly detect the most complex, costly and deadly infectious diseases through a low cost and simple-to-use multiplexed diagnostic test. The combination of this innovative technology and Nanosphere's customer-driven solutions keeps commitment to the patient at the forefront of its business. Nanosphere is based in Northbrook, IL. Additional information is available at http://www.nanosphere.us.
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) Nanosphere's ability to develop commercially viable products; (ii) Nanosphere's ability to achieve profitability; (iii) Nanosphere's ability to produce and market its products; (iv) Nanosphere's ability to obtain regulatory approval of its products; (v) Nanosphere's ability to protect its intellectual property; (vi) competition and alternative technologies; and (vii) Nanosphere's ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Additional risks are discussed in the Company's current filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.