Quanterix Simoa Technology Unlocks Low-Level Markers Critical to Rapid Triage Test in Study for Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Findings by leading researchers demonstrate the promise and relevance of Simoa in vast application areas

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE) October 25, 2019 --Quanterix Corporation (NASDAQ: QTRX), a company digitizing biomarker analysis to advance the science of precision health, today announced that its Simoa technology was used, in a recent study, as a rapid test for the triage of adult patients with persistent cough suspected to have active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The study details the accuracy of the rapid triage test, as it comes close to meeting the World Health Organizations’ minimum requirements for an effective TB test.

“There are vast applications for our technology in hospitals, research organizations, academic institutions and field operations. This study shows the ultra-sensitive Simoa technology has the potential to provide the opportunity to identify and triage cohorts of patients at any stage of the disease,” said Kevin Hrusovsky, Chairman, President and CEO of Quanterix. “We are working to capitalize on a broad range of markets (including point of care), in disease areas such as neurology, oncology and, as mentioned in the study, respiratory illnesses. Our recent launch of benchtop instruments, SP-X™ and SR-X™, are two early examples of our efforts to miniaturize our platforms.”

The Quanterix Simoa technology provides the ability to develop homebrew assays toward desired biomarkers of choice with the advantage of using minimal sample volume. The Simoa homebrew kits include all reagents and training required to develop these custom assays. Given the flexibility of the Simoa homebrew assay kits, the investigators – supported by the University of Melbourne and a Global Health Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – developed an ultrasensitive homebrew immunoassay for five clinically relevant TB biomarkers – IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, VEGF and the Ag85B antibody – on the Simoa platform. The result of the Simoa homebrew assay demonstrated 86% sensitivity and 69% specificity which is just under the WHO target of 90% sensitivity and 70% specificity.

Simoa allowed researchers to complete gaps that had been too low to detect in the commercial assay. The research team is continuing to refine and improve this test with the hope that it could be used to triage patients with active TB in the future, potentially saving millions of lives.

For more information about Simoa, visit: https://www.quanterix.com/technology.

About Quanterix

Quanterix is a company that’s digitizing biomarker analysis with the goal of advancing the science of precision health. The company’s digital health solution, Simoa, has the potential to change the way in which healthcare is provided today by giving researchers the ability to closely examine the continuum from health to disease. Quanterix’ technology is designed to enable much earlier disease detection, better prognoses and enhanced treatment methods to improve the quality of life and longevity of the population for generations to come. The technology is currently being used for research applications in several therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, cardiology, inflammation and infectious disease. The company was established in 2007 and is located in Billerica, Massachusetts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the potential for a test using Simoa technology to be used to triage patients with active TB in the future. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, actual results could differ materially from those projected and Quanterix cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described in Quanterix’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as amended, and in other filings Quanterix makes with the SEC from time to time. Quanterix undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.