RapidLabs

“Antibiotic-resistant bacteria kill more than 44,000 people a year in North America, and cost an estimated $5.5-billion (U.S.) in additional treatments. Those numbers are expected to soar in coming years as the so-called super bugs get stronger faster…”,
The Globe & Mail, March 03, 2006

Innovative technologies that support stemming the tide of growing resistance mechanisms have tremendous opportunities. RapidLabs offers a new approach to identifying bacteria and understanding their resistance profiles. This unique, patent-protected approach results in greater speed and specificity in generating results, using a test method that can be applied to a greater breadth of organisms.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global problem characterized by an increased and accelerating evolution of resistance mechanisms in bacteria to all currently developed antibiotics. To diagnose an infectious pathogen and appropriately treat the patient, clinical microbiology labs must identify (ID) the bacteria, and understand its resistance profile through antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). Physicians require this information to ensure that the prescribed antibiotic will be effective at eliminating the patient’s infection.

Clinical Lab Managers face two critical problems: they are increasingly becoming resource constrained, and they must play a greater diagnostic role in identifying the pathogens and their resistance profiles. Antimicrobial resistance mechanisms now require more and varied tests, and at the same time, there is considerable demand to make test results available faster. Rapid, accurate microbiology results have a substantial impact on overall hospital costs. Independent studies have demonstrated mid-sized hospitals would save between $2.5 and $4 million annually, as a result of decreased patient stay, decreased number of tests and more appropriate antibiotic utilization.

Commercially-available AST/ID systems measure the growth of microorganisms in the presence of antibiotics and other chemicals that affect growth. Current technologies advertise a minimum of 3.5 hours for results, but longer times (14-18h) are needed for most organisms.

Unlike all products and technologies on the market today, which are based on the growth of the organism, the RapidLabs AST/ID application is based on “cellular respiration”. This fundamental change allows RapidLabs to achieve an overall time reduction to diagnostic result in the order of 15 hours. We have completed testing in our laboratories that demonstrated accurate results with a time-to-result as low as 10- 30 minutes. In addition, a respiration-based approach allows RapidLabs to test a wider variety of clinically relevant microorganisms, because diverse growth environments do not need to be provided.

Recognizing the important financial contribution these systems provide, and the competencies of the current global device companies in this segment, RapidLabs is focused to achieve successive milestones specifically intended to build licensing interest and market traction with a range of potential partners.

Tom Walker is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Rapid Laboratory Microsystems, Inc. Before joining Rapid Laboratory Microsystems, Inc., Mr. Walker was Vice President, Client Services for AGFA Healthcare. His healthcare market related experience spans 20 plus years, and includes “early stage” efforts, as well as senior management roles with medical equipment, pharmaceutical, and software related companies (Eli Lilly, Cardinal Health, Mitra Imaging). Mr. Walker has significant international experience, working in the US, as well as expanding market opportunities in Europe and Asia.

Tom Walker, President & CEO
tom.walker@rapidlabs.com

Rapid Laboratory Microsystems Inc.
Grand River Hospital
3570 King Street East
Kitchener, ON N2P 2G5
519-895-0972
www.rapidlabs.com