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Karius and UCSF Show Rapid Pathogen Detection in Stem-Cell Transplant Patients

Trial Results Presented at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

December 07, 2017

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Karius, Inc., a life sciences company focused on transforming infectious disease diagnostics with genomics, is pleased to demonstrate the ability of the Karius Test to rapidly and accurately identify pathogens in immunocompromised patients after a stem-cell transplant. Results from the DISCOVER Trial, a collaboration between Karius and researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, will be presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in Atlanta on December 9.

“The DISCOVER Trial demonstrates the utility of the Karius test in patients whose immune systems are weakened after a stem-cell transplant,” said Mickey Kertesz, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Karius. “We are excited to share these findings with the clinical community — identifying Staphylococcus aureus and Chlamydia trachomatis well before other testing methods did. Our goal is to create a single test that can quickly help physicians deliver a potentially life-saving diagnosis, especially in cases where time is critical.”

“Diagnostic tests that accurately identify a breadth of potential pathogens are needed to inform more effective and targeted therapy,” said David Hong, M.D., Medical Director at Karius. “The results of our trial show that the Karius test can identify a broad range of pathogens in stem-cell transplant patients using a single blood test. This and other ongoing trials indicate the potential for the Karius test to become a standard of care in helping doctors diagnose challenging cases, including fastidious pathogens and invasive fungal infections.”

The presentation at the 59th ASH Annual Meeting demonstrates the potential of the Karius test as a broad and rapid method for clinical diagnosis of infectious disease in immunocompromised patients.

About the Presentation at ASH

The DISCOVER Trial: Application of the Karius Plasma Next-Generation Sequencing Test for Pathogen Detection in Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplant Patients (Publication #1937) Presented by Monica Fung, M.D., University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

This study prospectively enrolled 20 stem-cell transplant (SCT) patients to evaluate the Karius test for the monitoring and diagnosis of infections over time. Patients had blood drawn for the Karius test prior to SCT, at regular intervals after transplant, and at onset of fever episodes.

Results from the Karius test were then compared to the results obtained by conventional microbiologic tests. When compared to a conventional cytomegalovirus test (CMV qPCR), the Karius test showed 100% (26 of 26) concordance with results above the lower limit of quantitation for qPCR. The Karius test was also able to detect Staphylococcus aureus prior to blood culture and Chlamydia trachomatis a full 30 days before identification by a targeted assay.

This pilot study demonstrates that the Karius test can identify many co-infections in SCT patients. The use of the Karius test in SCT patients could result in earlier detection of pathogens, enabling timely targeted therapy for this vulnerable population.

About the Karius Test

The Karius Test uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) and analytics for the broad and rapid detection of microbial cell-free DNA through a standard blood draw. Unlike conventional culture and panel testing methods that identify a narrow range of pathogens, the Karius test can detect more than 1,250 pathogens including bacteria, DNA viruses, and eukaryotic organisms such as yeasts, mold, and protozoa. Results are typically available within one day of sample receipt. See the full list of microorganisms detected by Karius. Through Karius’ CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory service, the test empowers doctors to diagnose infections quickly and provide more targeted treatment to their patients.

About Karius, Inc.

Karius is a life sciences company focused on transforming infectious disease diagnostics with genomics. The company’s next-generation sequencing test for microbial cell-free DNA provides clinicians with a comprehensive test capable of identifying more than 1,250 pathogens directly from blood and helping industry accelerate drug development. For more information, visit kariusdx.com and follow us on Twitter at @kariusdx.