BEVERLY, Mass., Feb. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LexaGene Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: LXXGF; TSX-V: LXG) (the “Company”), a biotechnology company that develops genetic analyzers for pathogen detection and other molecular markers, announced today that its LX technology can detect the presence of antibiotic resistance factors from pathogens that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs. 

Dr. Jack Regan, LexaGene’s CEO and Founder states, “The prevalence of antibiotic resistant UTIs in dogs is increasing with greater than 31% of infections exhibiting multi-drug resistance to major categories of antibiotics*.  Animals with these types of infections are more susceptible to serious health consequences if the wrong antibiotic is prescribed while waiting between 2 to 5 days for reference laboratory test results.  During this delay, it is very possible a resistant infection will spread to the kidneys where it can cause kidney damage, kidney failure or even death of the patient.  LexaGene’s LX technology will help inform doctors quickly on the presence of antimicrobial markers in test samples, so they can prescribe the proper medication.”

The Company’s technology is designed to be placed inside veterinary hospitals and clinics, returning results in just one hour and providing insight into which pathogens are causing the patient’s UTI, as well as whether some common antibiotic resistance factors are detected.

Dr. Regan went on to say, “One of the many advantages of our technology is that it can screen for many different molecular markers at once.  Adding antimicrobial assays to our pathogen assays has always been on our roadmap.  We are in the process of validating seven antimicrobial resistance assays.  One of the common resistance markers with animal as well as public health implications is methicillin resistance gene in staphylococci.  Sure enough, once we added this assay to our panel, two of the tested urine samples in our clinical study returned positive results for both staphylococcus and the methicillin resistance gene.  This is a perfect example of where our technology would have quickly informed the veterinarian to prescribe a different class of antibiotic to better treat these patients, rather than having these patients suffer for days during which time a treatable infection may have escalated into a much more serious health condition.”

Every year in the United States, millions of urine tests are performed in dogs, with the vast majority of these tests being for symptoms related to UTIs.  LexaGene is currently conducting a clinical study to evaluate the utility of its technology in detecting and characterizing urinary tract infections. 

Daryl Rebeck, LexaGene’s President states, “Just last week, we announced that the LX technology successfully detected samples co-infected with two different pathogens, and here we are announcing that our LX technology is capable of detecting antibiotic resistance genes directly from urine.  This information in the hands of healthcare professionals could give the caregiver the vital information they need to prescribe more effective therapies, leading to better health outcomes and better overall antimicrobial stewardship.”

Additional results will be reported as they become available.

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About LexaGene Holdings Inc.

LexaGene is a biotechnology company commercializing the very first easy-to-use, fully automated, genetic analyzer that is open-access.  The open-access feature empowers end-users to target any genetic sequence of interest, whether of pathogen or human origin.  To take advantage of the open-access feature, end-users simply need to load their own real-time PCR assays onto the instrument to customize their tests or run validated assays the company is developing.  LexaGene’s analyzers offer excellent sensitivity, specificity, and breadth of pathogen detection while returning results in about 1 hour. The company expects to sell its technology in the food safety and veterinary diagnostics markets, as well as to markets that need easy-to-use customized testing such as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academia, and institutions performing water quality monitoring, aquaculture pathogen surveillance, biodefence and others.

Media Contacts Nicole Ridgedale Director of Corporate Marketing, LexaGene 800.215.1824 ext 206 nridgedale@lexagene.com

Investor Relations Jay Adelaar Vice President of Capital Markets, LexaGene 800.215.1824 ext 207 jadelaar@lexagene.com

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This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors -- including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the success of technology development efforts, the cost to procure critical parts, performance of the instrument, market acceptance of the technology, regulatory acceptance, and licensing issues -- that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations as disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see  www.sedar.com ). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.