First Light Biosciences Announces Funding From Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

BEDFORD, Mass., October 11, 2018 (Newswire.com) - First Light Biosciences, a developer of breakthrough automated diagnostic products for rapid, sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic tests for life-threatening infections, announced today that Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has approved a $10.7 million extension of the company’s multi-year contract to develop its automated MultiPath Platform and rapid tests for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and anthrax.¹

“Our continuing relationship with BARDA demonstrates the need for an affordable automated diagnostic platform that supports a broad menu of rapid, ultrasensitive and easy-to-use tests addressing critical public health issues, including antibiotic-resistant infections and biowarfare agents,” said David Macdonald, chief executive officer at First Light Biosciences.

“We are excited to be working with our BARDA partners to complete development of our powerful MultiPath Platform and novel tests for getting patients and doctors the answers they need much more quickly,” said Don Straus, founder and chief science officer at First Light Biosciences.

The BARDA contract supports development of the benchtop fully automated MultiPath Platform, an ultrasensitive test that detects anthrax infection in just 25 minutes from a simple fingerstick blood sample and a UTI test that detects infections and identifies the disease-causing pathogen in 30 minutes, and then determines the right antibiotic to treat the infection in just four hours, as opposed to the several days required by current tests.²

About First Light Biosciences

First Light Biosciences is developing and preparing to commercialize, innovative diagnostic products for rapid, sensitive and cost-saving detection of life-threatening infections, and combating the spread of antibiotic resistance. Don Straus is the company’s founder and primary inventor of the company’s core scientific technology. Based on its proprietary MultiPath™ detection technology, First Light’s products combine the clinical performance of the most advanced commercial laboratory tests with speed, cost-effectiveness and ease of use. The tests rapidly detect infections, identify infectious agents and determine effective targeted antibiotic therapy. This will improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and prevent inappropriate use of powerful antibiotics. To learn more, please visit www.firstlightbio.com.

Public relations contact:
David Macdonald
President and CEO
First Light Biosciences
[email protected]
Mobile: (858) 997-9641

¹ This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under Contract No. HHSO100201500022C.

² Test in development. For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures

Source: First Light Biosciences