GlobeNewswire Inc | Nov 2, 2020 08:25AM EST

November 02, 2020

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exagen Inc.(Nasdaq: XGN),an organization dedicated to transforming the care continuum for patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, announced today a new study in collaboration with Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, MA. The Brigham is acknowledged internationally for its expertise and innovation in patient care, biomedical research, and educational training programs for physicians, scientists, and health care professionals.

As viruses are implicated in the development of autoimmune diseases, there is the need to understand the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the development of rheumatic autoimmune diseases. This study will evaluate the incidence and risk factors for onset of rheumatic autoimmune diseases in people who recovered from COVID-19.

Positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 patients from the Brigham will be invited to partake in the year-long evaluation. Patients will be categorized by COVID-19 severity: mild (outpatient), moderate (inpatient, not ICU), and severe (ICU). Patients who elect to participate will be assessed with two validated questionnaires and tested using AVISE biomarkers to investigate the new onset of rheumatic disease symptoms and autoantibodies in the 3 months to 1 year following onset of COVID-19.

True incidence rates and risk factors associated with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases arising after COVID-19 are not known. We are proud to work with Brigham and Womens Hospital, particularly their strong rheumatic disease epidemiology research team, to examine this further, said Ron Rocca, President and CEO of Exagen.

AboutExagen Inc.

Exagenis dedicated to transforming the care continuum for patients suffering from debilitating and chronic autoimmune diseases by enabling timely differential diagnosis and optimizing therapeutic intervention.Exagenhas developed and is commercializing a portfolio of innovative testing products under its AVISE brand. Several of these products are based on our proprietary Cell-Bound Complement Activation Products, or CB-CAPs, technology. CB-CAPs assess the activation of the complement system, a biological pathway implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. Exagens goal is to enable rheumatologists to improve care for patients through the differential diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of complex autoimmune and autoimmune-related diseases, including SLE and rheumatoid arthritis, or RA. Exagens model of integrating testing products and therapeutics positionsExagento offer targeted solutions to rheumatologists and, ultimately, better serve patients. For more information, please visitwww.Exagen.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Exagencautions you that statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the companys current beliefs and expectations. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the study in collaboration with the Brigham and any potential findings related to the incidence and risk factors for consent of rheumatic autoimmune diseases in people who recovered from COVID-19. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation byExagenthat any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Exagens business, including, without limitation: the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, including as a result of shutdowns of our facilities and operations as well as those of our suppliers and courier services, impeding patient movement and interruptions to healthcare services causing a decrease in test volumes, disruptions to the supply chain of material needed for our tests, our sales and commercialization activities and our ability to receive specimens and perform or deliver the results from our tests, delays in reimbursement and coverage decisions from Medicare and third-party payors and in interactions with regulatory authorities, and delays in ongoing and planned clinical trials involving our tests; the companys commercial success depends upon attaining and maintaining significant market acceptance of its testing products and promoted therapeutics among rheumatologists, patients, third-party payers and others in the medical community; the companys ability to successfully execute on its Dx/Rx strategy, including its promotion efforts for SIMPONI; third party payers not providing coverage and adequate reimbursement for the companys testing products or promoted therapeutics; the companys ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its testing products; regulatory developments affecting the companys business; and other risks described in the companys prior press releases and the Companys filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission(SEC), including under the heading Risk Factors in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with theSEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, andExagenundertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

InvestorsWestwicke PartnersMike CavanaughMike.Cavanaugh@westwicke.com646.677.1838

CompanyExagen Inc.Kamal Adawi, Chief Financial Officerkadawi@exagen.com760.477.5514