ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Exagen Diagnostics, Inc., which develops and commercializes genomic marker-based in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kits for disease prognosis and prediction of treatment response, today announced that James McClintic has joined the company as president and CEO. McClintic succeeds Exagen founding CEO Waneta Tuttle, who will turn her attention to Southwest Medical Ventures, the venture development company she owns. Tuttle will continue as a member of the Exagen board of directors.
“Exagen has reached an important milestone and is now poised to begin commercializing its diagnostic tests on a global scale,” said Tuttle. “With his depth of knowledge in the clinical laboratory arena and a proven track record of growing start-up companies, Jim McClintic is the ideal person to lead Exagen through its next phase of development.”
Before joining Exagen, McClintic served as president and CEO of Esoterix, Inc., which performs laboratory services involving diagnosis and monitoring of serious diseases and conditions including asthma, bleeding disorders, cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases. During his six-year tenure there, McClintic grew annual revenues from $50 million to $120 million and orchestrated the sale of Esoterix to LabCorp, Inc. for $150 million. Previously, McClintic was regional president of eastern operations for Corning Clinical Labs, now Quest. He also held positions as president of SciCor, Inc., vice president of sales for the eastern zone of Bristol-Myers Squibb, and various sales and marketing management positions with E.R. Squibb & Sons, Inc.
“Exagen’s approach to genomic diagnostic tests is truly state of the art and represents an exciting opportunity to put high science in the hands of physicians who will use it to give patients a significantly better quality of life,” said McClintic. “I welcome the opportunity to devise the company’s strategic direction for the next phase of growth and ultimately, to elevate Exagen’s place in the market.”
Exagen’s products address the rapidly growing molecular diagnostics segment of the $22 billion in vitro diagnostics market. Next year, the company will launch its Key2(TM) Breast Cancer Prognostic Tests, the first and only reagents to detect changes in DNA copy number in both hormonepositive and hormone-negative patients using an improved FISH assay. In June, Exagen closed a Series B round of financing with investors Tullis- Dickerson & Co., vSpring Capital and Wasatch Venture Fund.
“This transition reflects the success of Exagen to date,” said Thomas Dickerson, chairman of Tullis-Dickerson & Co. and chairman of the Exagen board of directors. “Dr. Tuttle’s extraordinary vision and determination have enabled the company to assemble its technology platform and to bring its initial products into clinical trials that enable FDA clearance. Jim McClintic’s proven successes in growing diagnostic franchises and in commercializing products will ensure the company’s future.”
About Exagen Diagnostics, Inc.
As an emerging leader in the development of prognostic and predictive in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kits, Exagen Diagnostics is uniquely able to discover, validate and productize small sets of genomic markers for use in oncology, infectious disease and other indications. Exagen aims to commercialize IVD kits that can be performed by existing diagnostic laboratories and to develop tests that accompany the launch of new therapeutics and/or support pharmaceutical R&D/Phase IV. For more information, visit www.exagendiagnostics.com.
Source: Exagen Diagnostics, Inc.
