NEWS RELEASE - SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Lyme Disease: Researchers Hit Major Milestone With Over Ninety Percent Accurate Diagnostic Testing.
Focus on Lyme and Tulane Univ. License Groundbreaking Diagnostic Tech to Aces Diagnostics Inc.
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Sept. 16, 2024) –Focus on Lyme and Aces Diagnostics Inc. announced a significant milestone in Lyme disease diagnosis. Aces Diagnostics has begun developing and manufacturing this single-tier diagnostic test that can detect Lyme disease at all stages of the disease, including the first 14 days post-infection, with over 90% accuracy. The goal is to produce an FDA-cleared test that is accurate and available to all patients.
LymeSeek™, a diagnostic test developed through a collaboration between Tulane University and Focus On Lyme, combines advanced biomarker knowledge from Tulane’s research, led by Monica Embers, and nine years of intensive research funded by Focus On Lyme. This innovative approach, coupled with machine learning, has resulted in a test that promises to transform the landscape of Lyme disease diagnosis.
“Previous Lyme disease tests have been less than 50 percent accurate, particularly in the early stages,” said Tammy Crawford, CEO of Aces Diagnostics. “As a result, countless patients have been misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, leading to prolonged suffering and significant financial burdens on the healthcare system. LymeSeek™ aims to change that by providing a reliable, early diagnostic tool that can save lives.”
According to the CDC, nearly a half-million people in the United States are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease in the U.S. each year. A study showed that 14.5% of the global population is affected by Lyme disease. Compounding the issue is the risk of chronic illness associated with Lyme infection. A study by Johns Hopkins University showed that 38% of patients diagnosed with Lyme disease during the early stages continue to experience symptoms six months after diagnosis. For 14% of those patients, the symptoms significantly impair their quality of life. The percentage of chronic illness is even higher in patients with delayed diagnosis, highlighting the urgent need for improved diagnostics.
Despite its widespread impact, practical diagnostic tools to help lower the burden of the disease have been lacking—until now. “Standard Lyme disease testing requires four different tests, and it can take a week or more for results to be returned. The results then have to be subjectively interpreted,” said Aces Diagnostics, Co-Founder HollyAhern. “LymeSeek™ will replace the cumbersome two-tier testing approach, improve physicians’ ability to diagnose Lyme disease accurately, and enable earlier treatment, which will reduce the number of people who suffer from chronic illness due to delayed or missed diagnoses.”
Co-founders Crawford and Ahern are deeply committed to this mission and motivated by personal experience with the disease. “We never want to see anyone suffer for years the way our daughters did,” said Crawford. “An early diagnosis could have saved them from their living nightmare.”
Aces Diagnostics Inc. brings together a team with over 50 years of combined experience in Lyme disease research, backed by a distinguished advisory board that includes experts from Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, and Tulane University. The company is already advancing development and manufacturing efforts and pursuing early FDA clearance to make LymeSeek available to the public by the third quarter of 2026.
Donors interested in supporting and contributing to the fight against Lyme disease can visit www.focusonlyme.org.
About Focus On Lyme
Focus On Lyme is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving diagnostics, treatment, prevention, and advocacy for patients suffering from Lyme and associated tick-borne diseases. Through collaborations with leading institutions and researchers, Focus On Lyme aims to bring innovative solutions to the forefront of Lyme disease care. We have the world’s best researchers in the biological sciences working on our diagnostic tool. They manage global disease outbreaks and find answers during the outbreaks.
About Aces Diagnostics Inc.
Aces Diagnostics Inc. is a biotechnology company that develops cutting-edge diagnostic tools for Lyme disease. With a team of experienced researchers and a commitment to improving patient outcomes, Aces Diagnostics is poised to revolutionize the early detection and treatment of Lyme disease. Investors interested in helping to get an accurate diagnostic test to market can learn more at Tcrawford@acesdiagnostics.com.
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