Lab21 Launches New 3 Day Service to Identify Fungal Pneumonia

Cambridge, UK, 16th December 2008 … Lab21, a quality provider of healthcare diagnostic products and services, is expanding its clinical diagnostics portfolio with the introduction of a new service to identify the two most common causes of fungal pneumonia.

The CE marked test, FXGTM:RESP (ASP+), developed by UK diagnostic company Myconostica, will assist medical and scientific professionals to accurately and rapidly identify infections caused by both Aspergillus and Pneumocystis, which account for over 95% of cases of fungal pneumonia and could radically alter the diagnosis of fungal disease.

Fungal pneumonia is the leading cause of death due to infectious diseases in leukaemia and bone marrow transplant patients and is the most common first manifestation of AIDS. Accurate diagnosis of fungal pneumonia followed by appropriate antifungal treatment within the first 10 days of infection reduces the mortality rate from 90% to 40%.

Traditional methods used to identify fungal pneumonia infections are well-documented as being inaccurate, insensitive and slow, with a result typically taking 8 to 10 days. New developments in molecular diagnostics using Myconostica’s system provide a much more rapid, sensitive and specific alternative to the traditional techniques used to identify Aspergillus and Pneumocystis infection.

Dr Berwyn Clarke, Chief Scientific Development Officer for Lab21 commented, “Survival rates in cases of fungal pneumonia are significantly improved by the early diagnosis of the cause of infection, particularly in the intensive care setting. This technology provides a huge advantage to the treating clinician because it allows them to make a much more accurate judgement on therapeutic treatment much earlier in the infection cycle. The service Lab21 offers provides a huge advantage to the treating clinician because it allows them to make a more accurate decision of therapeutic options much earlier in the infectious cycle which will improve patient outcomes and reduce the treatment costs associated with fungal disease”.

Dr Tony Cooke, Operations Director at Lab21 added, “The key issue in using this new service to its full capability is the rapid delivery of the result to the clinician. To address this we have put in place all the logistics required so that a simple call to Lab21 will result in the sample being picked up, tested and reported to the clinician with a 3 day turnaround time.”

Chief Executive Officer of Myconostica, John Garland commenting on Lab21’s implementation of the FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) assay, “Lab21’s commitment to rapid testing for Aspergillus and Pneumocystis using FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) is an approach supported by Myconostica. Myconostica are delighted that Lab21 will offer this assay as a service to their clients.”

How to order Aspergillus and Pneumocystis screening using the FXGTM:RESP (ASP+) assay, in the UK

Please contact Lab21 for ordering information:

T: +44 (0)1223 395450

F: +44 (0)1223 395451


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About Lab21
Lab21 is a global provider of state-of-the-art diagnostic products and services, supporting drug discovery and healthcare. Its customers include healthcare providers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The Company has a growing test portfolio providing companion diagnostics and high technology assays for the growing integration of personalised medicine into healthcare. These services and products are currently in infectious diseases, oncology and pharmacogenetics areas with emerging interests in cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

Lab21's clinical reference laboratory and corporate office is based in Cambridge, UK and the Company's investors include Merlin Biosciences and Kreos Capital

Website: www.lab21.com 

About Myconostica
Myconostica, a spin-out company from Manchester University, is entirely focused on developing in vitro assays to aid in the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease. Their first diagnostic product in a strong pipeline, is the FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) kit which simultaneously detects both Aspergillus and Pneumocystis in clinical respiratory samples. Using Real-Time PCR technology, the assay provides a rapid and sensitive alternative to traditional testing methods which are well documented as being inaccurate, insensitive and relatively slow. Additional tests from Myconostica will also target critical fungal infections, such as Candida.

Myconostica’s headquarters are located in Manchester, UK with an additional facility based in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Website: www.myconostica.co.uk

Media relations for Lab21:
College Hill
Tony Stephenson
Rebecca Walker
Sue Charles
t : +44 (0) 20 7866 7864
e: lab21@collegehill.com 

At Lab21:
Dr Berwyn Clarke, Chief Scientific Development Officer
Richard Hughes, Commercial Manager
t : +44 (0)1223 395450
e: berwyn.clarke@lab21.com or richard.Hughes@lab21.com

Contacts at Myconostica:
Media Relations for Myconostica:
Cardew Group
Tim Robertson/Jamie Milton/Matthew Law
t: +44 (0)20 7930 0777

At Myconostica Ltd:
Dr. Francesca Sadler
Sales and Marketing Manager
t: +44 (0)161 998 7239
mycoinfo@myconostica.co.uk