New NX Prenatal Preterm Birth Risk Biomarker Data Presented at Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting

- Novel biomarker signatures identified at week 10-12 of pregnancy

- Blood test enabling risk assessment for "preemie" deliveries before week 34

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Feb 10, 2016, 11:09 ET

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NX Prenatal Inc., a US based molecular diagnostics company utilizing its proprietary NeXosome® technology for early warning of adverse pregnancy outcomes, announced today the presentation of its most recent study by Dr. Thomas McElrath of Brigham & Women's Hospital at the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting held in Atlanta, GA, February 1-6^th, 2016. The presentation reported initial positive top-line results regarding the development and continued validation of NX Prenatal's NeXosome Preterm Birth Risk Assay.

In pregnancy, maternal tissues like the uterus and fetal tissues like the placenta constantly deliver microparticles, such as exosomes, back and forth to help maintain balances which allow the pregnancy to progress normally. NX Prenatal harvests these microparticles from a maternal blood sample in order to detect biomarkers of preterm birth early in pregnancy.

In a blinded peer-reviewed process, SMFM selected this study entitled "Circulating microparticles as an effective means to stratify the risk of spontaneous preterm birth" for oral presentation during its annual meeting. This new collaborative study of 75 pregnant moms was designed to identify functional proteomic biomarkers that are already unique in their expression profiles at 10-12 weeks gestation among women who go on to deliver spontaneously at less than 34 weeks. In pregnancy, the analysis of the protein content of circulating microparticles, such as exosomes, is of revolutionary potential as it represents a non-invasive 'biopsy' of active gestational tissues.

"The NeXosome platform offers a unique opportunity to assess biomarkers related to the network of inter-related systems of the mom and baby that must stay in balance during pregnancy," commented Dr. McElrath. "Interestingly, our findings suggest that we can find irregularities in these networks long before eventual spontaneous preterm birth from a maternal blood sample."

"Plans are underway already to validate these findings in subsequent patient cohorts," said Brian Brohman, CEO of NX Prenatal. Previously reported results from NX Prenatal had indicated the utility of its approach for preterm birth risk assessment at week 15-17 of gestation. "This is a compelling improvement compared to currently utilized tests and procedures which are typically useful after week 22 of gestation."

Abstract reference:
19: Circulating microparticles as an effective means to stratify the risk of spontaneous preterm birth, Cantonwine, David E. et al., American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 214, Issue 1, S13 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2015.10.041

About NX Prenatal
NX Prenatal Inc. (NXPN) is a private US based molecular diagnostics company located in Louisville, KY. The company's NeXosome® Preterm Birth Risk Assay is positioned to be an enabling early warning system for pregnancies that may result in spontaneous preterm birth. Using its proprietary NeXosome Platform, NXPN has demonstrated the potential utility of a new library of biomarkers for prenatal risk assessment as early as 10 weeks gestation. This technology exploits biologically active and stable microparticles, such as exosomes, from the maternal bloodstream, to provide a real-time and non-invasive view of changing maternal and fetal tissues.

www.nxprenatal.com

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SOURCE NX Prenatal Inc.