Submission of 510(k) application to the FDA for clearance of the Acuitas® AMR Gene Panel test for bacterial isolates 

Revenue up 21% Quarter-over-Quarter 

Conference call to be held at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time today

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPGN) today reported financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and provided a business update. Total revenue for the first quarter of 2019 was $1.0 million, compared with $0.85 million for the first quarter of 2018. Recent business highlights include:

• Submission, on May 13, 2019, of 510(k) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for clearance of the Acuitas® AMR Gene Panel test for the detection of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacterial isolates;
• Advancement of the collaboration with the New York State Department of Health (“DOH”) and ILÚM Health Solutions, LLC (“ILÚM”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck’s Healthcare Services and Solutions, LLC;
• Achievement of first program milestone of $500,000 for New York State Infectious Disease Digital Health Initiative demonstration project, following installation of Acuitas systems     at New York City metro area health systems and the Wadsworth Laboratories;
• Publication of data supporting prediction of antibiotic resistance using the company’s Acuitas® AMR Gene Panel and Acuitas Lighthouse Software in the April issue of Antimicrobial  Agents  and  Chemotherapy,  a peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Microbiology;
• Presentation of OpGen rapid diagnostic ID products to key opinion leaders during an event co-hosted with ILÚM at the VIII International Symposium on Hospital Acquired Infections and Antimicrobial Stewardship, held in Cali, Colombia;
• Completion of public offering of common stock with gross proceeds of $5.4 million in March 2019.

“We have achieved several critical milestones to start the year, led by the submission of our first FDA 510(k) application for testing of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacterial isolates. We expect the process with the FDA to be completed in 2019 and have already started preparing for this key product launch,” said Evan Jones, Chairman and CEO of OpGen.

“Simultaneously, we are working to complete two additional 510(k) submissions for our lead rapid molecular diagnostic test, the Acuitas AMR Gene Panel (Urine) and the Acuitas Lighthouse Software. The clinical trials to support these submissions are anticipated to begin by the end of the second quarter. We plan to complete these trials in the third quarter of 2019 and will prepare the 510(k) submissions shortly thereafter.”

“To support the anticipated launch of these tests and informatics, we have established a robust network of hospitals and strategic industry players. We are particularly pleased with the advancement of the New York State Digital Health Initiative and continue to work closely with ILÚM and the New York State DOH to expand the impact of this important project. We are confident that we are well-positioned to execute on a successful commercial launch, as we aim to bring these products to more hospitals around the world,” Evan Jones concluded.

First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

• Total revenue for the first quarter of 2019 was $1.0 million, compared with $0.85 million for the first quarter of 2018;
• Operating expenses for the first quarter 2019 were $4.8 million, compared with $3.9 million for the first quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in research and development expense associated with the Acuitas AMR Gene Panel clinical trials and $0.5 million of non-cash impairment expense related to the Company’s Woburn, Massachusetts office right-of-use asset;
• The net loss for the first quarter of 2019 was $3.9 million or $0.41 per share, compared with a net loss of $3.0 million or $0.75 per share for the first quarter of 2018;
• Cash and cash equivalents were $6.0 million as of March 31, 2019.

Business and Operations Outlook

• Complete clinical evaluations and file De Novo 510(k) applications with the FDA for the Acuitas AMR Gene Panel (Urine) and the Acuitas Lighthouse Software for rapid testing of urine specimens and prediction of antibiotic resistance to front-line antibiotics;
• Continue to install Acuitas AMR Gene Panel systems in support of Research Use Only sales and full launch following first FDA clearance;
• Expand commercial activities to support FDA clearance and launch of the Acuitas AMR Gene Panel products;
• Present clinical verification study results for the Acuitas AMR Gene Panel (Urine) at the ASM Microbe conference in June 2019; and
• Commercialize rapid testing products in South America, using Colombia as a springboard.

Conference Call Information

OpGen management will hold a conference call today, May 14, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss first quarter 2019 financial results and other business activities, and answer questions.

Dial-in Information

U.S. Dial-In Number: (844)-420-8185
International Dial-In Number: (216)-562-0481
Conference ID: 6190299
Webcast URL: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/yxqz4fc4 

Replay Dial-in Information

U.S. Dial-In Number: (855)-859-2056
International Dial-In Number: (404)-537-3406
Conference ID: 6190299

A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.ir.opgen.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call for 90 days. 

About OpGen

OpGen, Inc. is a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and informatics to help combat infectious disease. We are developing molecular information products and services for global healthcare settings, helping to guide clinicians with more rapid and actionable information about life threatening infections, improve patient outcomes, and decrease the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, or MDROs.

Our molecular diagnostics and informatics products, product candidates and services combine our Acuitas molecular diagnostics and Acuitas Lighthouse informatics platform for use with our proprietary, curated MDRO knowledgebase. We are working to deliver our products and services, some in development, to a global network of customers and partners. The Acuitas AMR Gene Panel (RUO) is intended for Research Use Only and is not for use in diagnostic procedures. The Acuitas Lighthouse Software is not distributed commercially for antibiotic resistance prediction and is not for use in diagnostic procedures. For more information, please visit www.opgen.com.

OpGen, Acuitas, and Acuitas Lighthouse are registered trademarks of OpGen, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements relating to OpGen’s outlook for 2019. These statements and other statements regarding OpGen’s future plans and goals constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control, and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations. Factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described include, but are not limited to, our ability to timely and cost- effectively seek and obtain regulatory clearance for and commercialize our product and services offerings, our ability to successfully complete the demonstration project portion of the New York State Infectious Disease Digital Health Initiative, the rate of adoption of our products and services by hospitals and other healthcare providers, the success of our commercialization efforts, the effect on our business of existing and new regulatory requirements, and other economic and competitive factors. For a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties associated with OpGen's business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and subsequent filings. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

OpGen Contact: 
Michael Farmer 
Vice President, Marketing (240) 813-1284 
mfarmer@opgen.comInvestorRelations@opgen.com

Press Contact: 
Matthew Bretzius 
FischTank Marketing and PR
matt@fischtankpr.com

Investor Contacts:
Joe Green Edison Group 
jgreen@edisongroup.com

Source: OpGen, Inc.