High Throughput DNA Testing
Turning Microbiology into Chemistry
About Us
Safeguard Biosystems is an international molecular diagnostics company which has developed a low cost, high-throughput, molecular diagnostic technology platform. The system enables rapid identification by DNA of the most prevalent bacterial and fungal pathogens directly from blood. Clinical samples can be tested from matrices such as whole blood, urine, peritoneal fluid and swabs. As a reflex test for positive samples, the system provides an extensive menu of tests to determine the presence of resistance genes.
Our system’s proprietary multiplexed PCR can deliver reliable and accurate results within hours directly from whole blood, without the need for culture (current “gold standard” tests are less reliable and take at least 1-3 days). The system enables physicians rapidly to diagnose the pathogens that cause a patient’s infection and prescribe appropriate antimicrobial therapy for singular or poly-microbial infections. Such earlier diagnoses can reduce morbidity and mortality as well as offering significant cost benefits for healthcare providers. Early and appropriate use of antibiotics is an important step in addressing the growing incidence of global antimicrobial resistance.
Safeguard is a UK company, incorporated in 2006 and headquartered in Northvale, New Jersey. The company was founded by Richard Strafehl and Barbara Merlo in Toronto, Canada. Today, Safeguard has an experienced management team with expertise in the research and development of molecular diagnostic tools, product optimization , manufacturing, marketing and finance. It employs 20 scientists, clinical and regulatory experts at its dedicated laboratory facilities. Besides its main facility in Northvale, Safeguard has laboratories and offices in Freiberg, Germany, and Toronto, Canada.
Safeguard’s technology has been validated by a third party. New York State's Department of Health has approved the technology as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT). The Company is launching its system as a commercial product during 2022.
Safeguard's technology has also been adapted to detect pathogens in dairy cattle directly from milk - ensuring safe dairy food and healthy herds.
Safeguard is an equal partner in a Joint Venture in a Philippines clinical laboratory business, Safeguard DNA Diagnostics Inc. Three laboratories are operational currently testing for COVID and other clinical tests. Two more laboratories are due to open in 2022. These laboratories are geographically spread around the Philippines focusing on the major metropolitan centers. The Safeguard system used to test samples of people suspected of infectious disease will commence in the months ahead.
Management Team
George Aaron, CEO and Chairman
Mr Aaron joined Safeguard in 2012 following an extensive career in the Life Science industry including working at Schering Plough. He has a track record of building companies and delivering successful exits, including two diagnostic companies
Howard Sherman, CFO
Mr Sherman spent thirty years in corporate finance, private banking and business consultancy prior to joining Safeguard in 2006. He was previously at Charterhouse Bank, Unibank, and undertook Business Recovery.
Daniel Cohen, Head of Operations
Mr Cohen is Safeguard's Head of Operations and has been with the company since 2016. Daniel is a trained microbiologist and has held senior management and operations positions. He holds a graduate degree in Biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel and a Bachelor's with honours from Columbia University.
Dr Holger Klapproth, Chief Scientific Officer
Dr Holger Klapproth has a masters degree in biology and a PhD in natural sciences. He started his professional career as head of lab at GeneScan Europe in 1997 quickly rising to head of R&D for Biochip Technologies - the high-tech part of GeneScan. He left GeneScan in 2001 to become an independent biotech advisor in the fields of diagnostic products and IP. He joined Safeguard in 2007 and currently holds the position of CSO. His scientific creativity is demonstrated by the more than 80 patent families he invented or co-invented.
Michael Locke, Head of Regulatory Affairs & Quality Management
Mr. Locke has been in the invitro diagnostic medical device sector for 20+ years, has held senior level management positions, as a Global Director of Regulatory Affairs, Quality Management & Clinical Affairs. At Safeguard, Mr. Locke is responsible for Regulatory Affairs and Quality Compliance with his extensive experience in global regulations/standards to include MDD/IVDD, MDR/IVDR, US FDA CFR, CMDR/CMDCAS, ISO and post Brexit UK regulations.
Dr Marilyn Owens, Head of Development
Dr Owens has thirty years’ experience in microbiology and immunology including leading clinical laboratories and consultancy. She has a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from UCLA.
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr Natan Keller, former Head of Infectious Disease Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
Dr Arthur Rubenstein MBBCh, Professor of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, and was former Dean of School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania. He was also former Director of LabCorp and Dean of Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY
Dr. Mervyn Singer, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London. His primary research interests are sepsis and multi-organ failure, infection, shock and haemodynamic monitoring. He is Secretary (formerly Chair) of the International Sepsis Forum and led the ‘Sepsis-3’ international task force that re-defined sepsis in 2016.
Dr Mel Weinstein, Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Co-Director, Microbiology Laboratory at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Jersey
Fran White, President, Regulatory & Clinical Affairs at MDC Associates. Ms. White is a highly regarded IVD FDA regulatory expert.
Dr Stephen Young, Director of Research and Clinical Trials at TriCore Reference Laboratories, New Mexico
Board of Directors
George Aaron, CEO and Executive Chairman
Mr Aaron joined Safeguard in 2012 following an extensive career in the Life Science industry including working at Schering Plough. He has a track record of building companies and delivering successful exits, including two diagnostic companies
James Culverwell, Non-Executive Director
Mr Culverwell was for 25 years a leading healthcare investment analyst, formerly SVP and Global Coordinator Healthcare at Merrill Lynch. He has been a non-executive director in early stage life science companies, including NASDAQ and AIM listed, and is currently Chairman of HOX Therapeutics
Wayne Fox, Non-Executive Director
Mr Fox was formerly Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of CIBC World Markets and Chairman Toronto Stock Exchange
Jeremy Novak, Non-executive director
Mr Novak is an attorney and investment banker with extensive experience working as an alternative asset manager/investor. He is the CEO and founder of Aegis Group Partners which is an asset management firm focused on early and growth stage companies that are developing, or have developed, disruptive technologies across multiple industries.
Dr Arthur Rubenstein MBBCh, Non-Executive Director
Dr Rubinstein is Professor of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, and was former Dean of School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania. He was also former Director of LabCorp and Dean of Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY
Howard Sherman, CFO and Executive Director
Mr Sherman spent thirty years in corporate finance, private banking and business consultancy prior to joining Safeguard in 2006. He was previously at Charterhouse Bank, Unibank, and undertook Business Recovery.