The quantitative next-generation sequencing blood test for infectious diseases makes an international impact
The quantitative next-generation sequencing blood test for infectious diseases makes an international impact
REDWOOD CITY, California — October 26, 2018 — Karius, a life sciences company transforming infectious disease diagnostics with genomics, is forming a partnership with Dasa, the largest medical diagnostic company in Latin America, effective October 19, 2018.
The number of deaths from infectious diseases is significant in Brazil (1). Infectious disease is particularly a concern in individuals with compromised immune systems, such as patients with advanced HIV/AIDS, cancer, and transplant recipients. To help address this problem, Dasa is making the Karius® Test, a next-generation sequencing assay capable of detecting over 1,000 pathogens from microbial cell-free DNA in a single blood draw, available to multiple hospitals in Brazil with the potential to impact the lives of thousands of patients.
For Dasa, the partnership represents an opportunity to use the Karius technology to better diagnose infections in order to use targeted treatments quicker thus lowering costs. “The average cost today to treat a patient with antifungal therapy is $5,000/day. The partnership will allow us to bring to Brazil the most innovative approaches in the diagnosis of infectious agents, offering new and useful tools for doctors to better serve their patients,” said Dr. Emerson Gasparetto, Medical Vice President of Dasa.
The Karius Test is commercially available in the United States, and the partnership with Brazil represents the first expansion into the international market. Specimen samples from local reference laboratories in Brazil will be processed and reported at the CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited Karius laboratory in Redwood City, California. Results will typically be available within 48 hours after receipt of the samples.
“Bringing the Karius Test to Brazil is the first step we’re taking to make the Karius technology available to patients worldwide. Access to the Karius Test will enable better diagnosis of infections and help save more lives. We are excited to be collaborating with Dasa, the largest medical diagnostics company in Latin America,” said Mickey Kertesz, CEO of Karius.
The details of this collaboration were presented at the 11th Sao Paulo Congress of Infectious Diseases on October 19, 2018.
About Dasa
Dasa is the largest medical diagnostic company in Latin America and the fifth largest in the world. Its offerings include clinical analysis, diagnostic imaging, and molecular and genomic medicine. Dasa aims to transform diagnostic medicine by incorporating the latest innovations in diagnostics and personalized medicine. For more information visit https://www.dasa.com.br.
About Karius, Inc.
Karius is a life sciences company focused on transforming infectious disease diagnostics with genomics, using next-generation sequencing to analyze microbial cell-free DNA. The Karius laboratory is CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited to perform high-complexity clinical laboratory testing. The company’s genomics platform and clinical grade curated pathogen database deliver deep insight into the microbial landscape, providing clinicians with a comprehensive, quantitative test capable of identifying more than a thousand pathogens directly from blood. For more information, visit kariusdx.com and follow us on Twitter at @kariusdx.
- Bareto ML et. al, Lancet. 2011 May 28;377(9780):1877-89. Doi: 10.1016 / S0140-6736(11) 60202-X. Epub 2011 May 9.
