Curetis AG, an innovative molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, today announced the start of a prospective clinical trial of its Unyvero™ System and the Unyvero™ P50 Pneumonia Cartridge in the European Union.

The prospective, international, multicenter trial will enroll up to 1,000 hospitalized patients suspected with a lower respiratory tract infection. Patient samples such as sputa, aspirates or bronchial lavages will be pre-processed by the Unyvero™ Lysator and transferred to the Unyvero™ P50 Pneumonia cartridge, which is analyzed by the Unyvero™ Analyzer.

Primary endpoint of the study will be assay performance defined as clinical sensitivity and specificity compared to today’s diagnostics standard of care, microbiology culture. Trial sites include the University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany, the Heart and Diabetes Center Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain, the Erasme Hospital in Brussels/Belgium, and the University Hospital Jena, Germany. Principal investigator is Prof. Dr. Ingo B. Autenrieth of the University Hospital Tuebingen. Interim topline data are expected for spring 2012.