Xagenic

Xagenic was a molecular diagnostics company founded in 2010 by Dr. Shana Kelley and Professor Edward Sargent, both from the University of Toronto. The company was established to commercialize a low-cost, chip-based diagnostic system developed from their research, aiming to provide rapid, on-demand detection of pathogens. Dr. Kelley, who served as the Chief Technology Officer, brought prior entrepreneurial experience to the venture, having co-founded GeneOhm Sciences, which was acquired by Becton Dickinson in 2005. Xagenic secured significant funding through multiple rounds, including a $10 million Series A in 2012 and a Series B that reached $25.5 million by 2014, from investors such as CTI Life Sciences Fund, BDC Capital, and Domain Associates. In January 2018, the company's assets were acquired by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS).

The company focused on the point-of-care diagnostics market, specifically targeting physicians' offices and clinics to enable immediate and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases. This approach was intended to allow clinicians to make timely treatment decisions during a patient's initial visit, addressing a significant unmet need and potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with delayed diagnosis and unnecessary antibiotic use. The business model was centered around consumables, involving the sale of inexpensive testing instruments used with low-cost, disposable cartridges.

Xagenic's core product was the Xagenic X1™ platform, a fully automated, lab-free molecular diagnostic system designed to deliver results in approximately 20 minutes. Its proprietary AuRA (Amplified Redox Assay) technology utilized patented, nanostructured microelectrodes for the rapid, enzyme-free detection of DNA and RNA directly from clinical specimens. The entire process, from sample introduction to result, was automated within a single-use cartridge, making the system accessible to users without specialized laboratory training. The initial menu of diagnostic tests was planned for infectious diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and influenza.

Keywords: molecular diagnostics, point-of-care testing, infectious disease detection, nanotechnology diagnostics, chip-based diagnostics, Shana Kelley, lab-free testing, nucleic acid detection, automated diagnostics, AuRA technology, diagnostic cartridges, General Atomics acquisition, University of Toronto spin-off, medical device, clinical diagnostics, rapid pathogen detection, electrochemical sensors, decentralized testing, nanostructured microelectrodes, healthcare technology