ProAxsis Immunoassays Selected for Large-Scale ERS-Funded BRIDGE Respiratory Trial

– 1,000 patient BRIDGE study to be funded by the European Respiratory Society

London, UK – 20 September, 2018 – NetScientific plc (“NetScientific”, AIM:NSCI), the transatlantic healthcare IP commercialisation group, announces that its portfolio company ProAxsis Limited (“ProAxsis”) has had two products selected for inclusion in the BRIDGE study*, a major upcoming clinical trial funded by the European Respiratory Society (ERS).

The study will employ NEATstik® – the first test ever developed to enable measurement of active neutrophil elastase at point-of-care – and the ProteaseTag® Active NE Immunoassay over 3 years in 1000 patients suffering from bronchiectasis across Europe, with the purpose of stratifying the clinical population.

Assessments will include microbiome, proteomics, detailed phenotyping, and imaging, in order to explore new biomarkers and determine their impact on clinical outcomes.

Commenting on the news, NetScientific’s Chief Executive Officer and ProAxsis’ Chairman, Francois R. Martelet, said: “BRIDGE will be a major respiratory study and we are pleased that the ERS, a prominent research body, has selected ProAxsis’ respiratory immunoassays for inclusion.

“ProAxsis has demonstrated that active neutrophil elastase can help identify bronchiectasis patients at highest risk of clinical exacerbations, so we are excited for the opportunity to explore this and other potential biomarkers in a large, pan-European patient population. This decision further validates the use of these immunoassays in the respiratory field, and we expect to see this translate into further engagement with pharmaceutical companies that are active in the area.”

NetScientific holds 54% of ProAxsis on a fully diluted basis.

The full text of the announcement from ProAxsis can be found below.

*The BRIDGE study – Bronchiectasis Research Involving Databases, Genomics and Endotyping to match the right treatment to the right patient.  The study is funded by the European Respiratory Society (ERS).

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ProAxsis assays selected for inclusion in major new ERS-funded study

Date: 20 September 2018

ProAxsis Limited (www.proaxsis.com), the Belfast-based company focused on developing new assays for the measurement of active protease biomarkers of disease, today announces that two of its products, the ProteaseTag® Active NE Immunoassay and NEATstik®, the first test to enable measurement of active neutrophil elastase at point-of-care, have been selected for inclusion in a major upcoming clinical trial.

The BRIDGE study is a 3-year collaborative study, funded by the European Respiratory Society (ERS), in which 1000 patients with bronchiectasis across Europe will be recruited and will have multiple assessments including microbiome, proteomics, detailed phenotyping and imaging.  The study will explore novel biomarkers and demonstrate what they can add to clinical practice.

Commenting on the news, Dr David Ribeiro, CEO of ProAxsis, said: “We’re delighted that this group of eminent researchers in the field of respiratory medicine have chosen to include both the NE immunoassay and NEATstik® in to the protocol of this important study, and look forward to collaborating with many of the top bronchiectasis research groups in Europe.”

Professor James Chalmers, the Chief Investigator of the BRIDGE study, added: “Bronchiectasis is a common disabling and heterogeneous disease that has been neglected in terms of basic and clinical research.  This study aims to explore the clinical, microbiological, inflammatory and functional heterogeneity of the disease with the aim of identifying patient endotypes for stratified medicine.  We’ve previously demonstrated that active neutrophil elastase can help identify bronchiectasis patients at highest risk of clinical worsening*, so we’re excited about further exploring this and other potential biomarkers in a large, pan-European patient population.”

Any queries concerning ProAxsis’ immunoassay and point-of-care test for measuring active Neutrophil Elastase, or any requests for support with measuring other active protease biomarkers using the Company’s proprietary ProteaseTag® technology, can be directed to info@proaxsis.com.

*Chalmers et al (2017) AJRCCM

About NetScientific

NetScientific is a transatlantic healthcare technology group with an investment strategy focused on sourcing, funding and commercialising technologies that significantly improve the health and well-being of people with chronic diseases. For more information, please visit the website at www.netscientific.net

About ProAxsis Limited:

ProAxsis is developing a range of products for the capture, detection and measurement of active protease biomarkers of disease. Its first commercialised immunoassay measures neutrophil elastase, a leading indicator of infection and inflammation in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis, and an important drug target. The rapid and easy-to-use tests being developed by ProAxsis incorporate patented ProteaseTags®; smart molecules which trap an active protease within a complex biological sample and enable a visual readout of its presence. ProteaseTags® provide a unique tool to identify and quantify active protease biomarkers and will assist in the clinical validation of new therapeutics.

ProAxsis is part of the NetScientific Group and is one of the Group’s core portfolio companies.  The company is also supported by QUBIS, the commercialisation arm of Queens University.

About the BRIDGE study:

The BRIDGE study – Bronchiectasis Research Involving Databases, Genomics and Endotyping to match the right treatment to the right patient. The BRIDGE study – Bronchiectasis Research Involving Databases, Genomics and Endotyping to match the right treatment to the right patient. The BRIDGE study is a 3-year collaborative study, funded by the European Respiratory Society (ERS), in which 1000 patients with bronchiectasis across Europe will be recruited and will have multiple assessments including microbiome, proteomics, detailed phenotyping and imaging.  The study will explore novel biomarkers and demonstrate what they can add to clinical practice.