Exagen Diagnostics

About Exagen Diagnostics

Exagen Inc. is a commercial-stage life sciences company focused on providing diagnostic testing for autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Founded in 2002 by Waneta Tuttle, the company operates in the healthcare sector, specifically serving rheumatologists and their patients who are dealing with complex, often difficult-to-diagnose conditions. The business generates revenue by selling its portfolio of tests, marketed under the AVISE® brand, to healthcare providers. A significant milestone was its initial public offering (IPO) in September 2019, which raised approximately $58 million in gross proceeds, providing capital for commercial expansion and further research.

The company's core offering is its AVISE testing platform, which was commercially launched in 2012. This platform is built upon a proprietary technology involving Cell-Bound Complement Activation Products (CB-CAPs), which measure the activation of the complement system, a key part of the disease process in conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The flagship product, AVISE CTD, is a comprehensive panel that aids clinicians in the differential diagnosis of various connective tissue diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Unlike traditional markers, which can be inconclusive, the AVISE tests aim to provide greater sensitivity and specificity, helping to reduce the time to an accurate diagnosis. The portfolio also includes tests for prognosis, monitoring disease activity, and optimizing therapies by measuring drug levels.

The development of the AVISE portfolio was significantly influenced by Thierry Dervieux, who served as Chief Scientific Officer for a decade starting in 2010. His work was instrumental in building out the testing solutions that led to the company's IPO. A major achievement for Exagen was completing its one-millionth AVISE CTD test in late 2024, demonstrating significant market adoption within the rheumatology community. The company continues to innovate, receiving conditional approval from New York State in early 2025 for new SLE and rheumatoid arthritis biomarkers to be integrated into the AVISE CTD platform. With a focus on research and a patient-centric approach, Exagen aims to become the standard of care for rheumatologists managing complex autoimmune diseases.