Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a leading company based in Oxford, U.K., has joined forces with Day Zero Diagnostics, a Boston-based infectious disease diagnostics firm, to develop an innovative solution for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections. This groundbreaking partnership aims to create an end-to-end diagnostic system that combines both companies’ cutting-edge technologies in order to combat infections that can lead to sepsis.
The proposed diagnostic system, which will undergo regulatory approvals including those from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is designed to provide same-day identification and genomic-based antibiotic susceptibility profiling without the need for traditional blood culture methods. By utilizing Day Zero Diagnostics’ ultra-high enrichment sample preparation technology and its AI-driven Keynome microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility pipeline, in conjunction with Oxford Nanopore’s high-throughput, small-format PromethION 2 Solo sequencing reads, the integrated system promises to revolutionize the field of infectious disease diagnostics.
Sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection, can have devastating consequences if not promptly treated. The executives from both companies emphasize the critical need for rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infections, which can guide therapy and ultimately save lives. By offering culture-free, same-day organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling directly from native samples, this partnership aims to transform the landscape of infectious disease diagnostics by enabling early, targeted, and life-saving treatments for patients.
Jong Lee, co-founder, and CEO of Day Zero Diagnostics, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating that the system will be a game-changer in infectious disease diagnostics, enabling early and targeted treatment for patients. Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, shared his hope that the rapid results, high accuracy, and accessibility of their system, paired with Day Zero Diagnostics’ expertise and workflow, will make this fast and effective solution accessible to a broader population in the fight against bloodstream infections.
In addition to the partnership, Day Zero Diagnostics has also signed an agreement to utilize Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing and analysis capabilities as part of their epiXact lab services. This collaboration will enable commercial customers to conduct research, track, and manage infection outbreaks more effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a severe response to an infection that can occur anywhere in the body. If left untreated, it can lead to multiple organ failure and, in some cases, death.
What makes this partnership between Oxford Nanopore and Day Zero Diagnostics significant?
This partnership is significant because it aims to develop an integrated diagnostic system for the rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infections. By combining their technologies, the companies hope to provide same-day identification and genomic-based antibiotic susceptibility profiling without the need for traditional blood culture methods.
How will the proposed diagnostic system revolutionize infectious disease diagnostics?
The proposed diagnostic system will revolutionize infectious disease diagnostics by enabling early and targeted life-saving treatment for patients. It will offer rapid results, high accuracy, and accessibility, making it a game-changer in the field.
What are the potential benefits of the Oxford Nanopore and Day Zero Diagnostics system?
The system’s benefits include culture-free, same-day organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling directly from native samples. This will allow for faster and more effective diagnosis and treatment of bloodstream infections.
Will the partnership between Oxford Nanopore and Day Zero Diagnostics expand beyond diagnostics?
Yes, in addition to the partnership, Day Zero Diagnostics has signed an agreement to use Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing and analysis capabilities as part of its epiXact lab services. This will enable commercial customers to conduct research and track and manage infection outbreaks more efficiently.