Vivione Biosciences Inc. Announces a Research Collaboration With Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

DALLAS, TX–(Marketwired – May 11, 2015) – Vivione Biosciences Inc. (“Vivione” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE: VBI), is pleased to announce a research collaboration with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine located in Chicago, Illinois. The collaboration will focus on the rapid detection of low levels of bacteria in clinical blood samples, as well the quantitative assessment of immune biomarkers related to sepsis. Working with Dr. Richard Wunderink in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, the aim of this collaboration is to assess the performance of Vivione’s RAPID-B bacterial detection system for detection of blood stream infections, where speed and high sensitivity are of particular importance.

“Working with a leading researcher in the area of infectious disease diagnostics like Dr. Rich Wunderink is a great step for Vivione. Dr. Wunderink’s interest in quantitative bacterial detection for blood is a perfect next step in our clinical development of RAPID-B and sets the stage for the addition of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing using our platform’s unique capabilities,” said Vivione’s Chief Medical Officer, Matthew Gombrich, M.D., M.S. “This test data will allow us to continue working in the rapid bacterial detection and sepsis testing markets establishing Vivione as a leader in infectious disease diagnostics,” Gombrich continued. “Currently bacteremia and sepsis diagnostics represent a $4 billion market worldwide, and the predominant culture-based procedures take 12 to 24 hours on average to confirm the presence of bacteria, and an additional 24 to 48 hours to determine the subject bacteria’s susceptibility to selected antibiotics. We believe that the RAPID-B system can combine these steps, shorten the detection period to under 7 hours, and yield more quantifiable results in the process.”

Dr. Wunderink commented, “The need for more rapid assessment of bacterial presence in normally sterile body fluids such as blood, urine, and bronchial lavage fluid is well established and is vital to addressing the growing problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria. We’re looking forward to assessing RAPID-B in this context, as well as the additional rapid antibiotic susceptibility profiling to determine the clinical utility of Vivione’s platform.”

“The involvement of a world-class academic center like Northwestern is further evidence of the growing interest in Vivione’s RAPID-B platform. This collaboration strengthens the company’s clinical development foundation and advances its strategic focus on infectious disease and sepsis,” said Vivione CEO, Kevin Kuykendall. He continued, “Dr. Wunderink’s academic and clinical reputation speaks for itself in the area of infectious disease and critical care medicine. Vivione could not think of a better collaborator as we move towards commercializing the RAPID-B platform in the clinical marketplace.”

About Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, Feinberg has built a national reputation for excellence through a strong history of collaborative, interdisciplinary medical education and research, and along with Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Medical Group is part of the premier academic medical center known as Northwestern Medicine. Feinberg stands out among the nation’s research-intensive medical schools and consistently receives high marks in U.S. News & World Report surveys. Through its affiliates, it provides patient care to thousands of individuals every year, and plays an integral part in the communities it serves. For more information visit www.nm.org

About Vivione
Vivione is a TSX Venture Exchange listed biosciences company focused on the commercialization of its proprietary RAPID-B platform; an integrated platform of hardware, software and reagents that quickly and accurately identify, quantify and qualify bacteria and other pathogens in key food & water safety, clinical, industrial and oil & gas environments. For more information, visit www.VivioneBiosciences.com.

Cautionary Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although Vivione believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to Vivione. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking information relating to the commercialization and the development of the RAPID-B system, Vivione’s business and growth strategy. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, Vivione does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Vivione undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Vivione, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities.

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Source: Marketwired Biotech