VolitionRx CEO to present coronavirus white blood cell research at Maxim Group virtual conference

VolitionRx Limited (NYSEAMERICAN:VNRX) announced Wednesday that CEO Cameron Reynolds has been invited to give a presentation on coronavirus testing Wednesday at The Role of Cell Therapy and Clarity on Testing Conference. The virtual event, put on by the Maxim Group, runs from 10 am to 2 pm ET. Cameron is part of a panel discussion titled “Testing & Susceptibility - Clearing the Air,” set to begin at noon. Cameron plans to talk about Volition’s research on white blood cells and their predictive potential regarding the coronavirus. READ: VolitionRx closes $13.8M public offering to fund product development and clinical studies Under normal circumstances, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are formed by white blood cells to catch and trap invading viruses by ejecting chromatin materials. Viruses like SARS and pneumonia, though, are associated with a hyperimmune response that sees white blood cells eject massive amounts of NETs, which is damaging to the lungs. VolitionRx is currently clinically testing whether elevated levels of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in the blood are predictive of complications arising from viral infections such as COVID-19.  So far, a proof of concept study of 34 coronavirus patients and 50 control group subjects revealed that nucleosomes, a basic structural unit of DNA, were highly elevated in those with the virus. A preliminary study showed an area under the curve (AUC) — a measure of drug exposure — for one of its NU.Q assays of 98.7% for PCR positive COVID versus the control group with 100% sensitivity and 94% specificity. A second assay showed an AUC of 86.2%. The company plans to use the results of this trial and other ongoing studies to further its efforts to develop a clinically useful product to help mitigate the pandemic, the company said. Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel