The cover features an artistic illustration of the immune system in the lungs and how antibodies from the lower airways can be studied by analyzing particles in exhaled breath. The study is also highlighted by title on the cover, bringing further international visibility to the research findings.

PExA previously reported on the study, in which researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital and Uppsala University, led by Professor Charlotte Thålin and Associate Professor Mikael Åberg, demonstrated that virus-specific antibodies against influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV can be measured in samples collected non-invasively using PExA technology. The findings open new opportunities in vaccine research, immunology and drug development.

The study also demonstrates differences in antibody profiles between the upper and lower airways. This means that analyses of blood or nasal samples alone do not provide a complete picture of immune responses in the lungs’ small airways. For vaccine research, the ability to investigate immune responses directly where protection is needed could therefore be particularly valuable. PExA’s non-invasive technology also makes repeated sampling possible, enabling researchers to study how local antibody responses change over time – something that is practically impossible to achieve in larger research cohorts using repeated bronchoscopy.

When Charlotte Thålin was named a Wallenberg Academy Fellow in 2025, she described the possibility of using PExA to study antibodies in the lower airways as a “game-changer” for the development of vaccines and antibody-based treatments. The published study now provides scientific support for this potential.

–       It is extremely rewarding to see this research receive such attention in a prestigious international scientific journal. Having the study additionally featured on the cover is particularly exciting and helps generate further international attention for both the research findings and PExA’s technology. The illustration beautifully captures what makes PExA so interesting – the ability to study the immune system in the lungs’ small airways without invasive procedures. Charlotte Thålin, Mikael Åberg and their colleagues have done impressive work that opens new opportunities for PExA in vaccine development and pharmaceutical research, says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

The cover illustration was created by Lovisa Thålin and is featured in the November issue of eBioMedicine, Volume 133.

Links:

🔗 eBioMedicine – part of The Lancet Discovery Science

🔗 Cover illustration by Lovisa Thålin, eBioMedicine, November 2026, Volume 133

🔗 PExA’s press release from November 5: New Karolinska Institutet Study in Lancet Journal Opens New Opportunities for PExA in Vaccine Development

Scientific Publication

Aguilera K. et al. Non-invasive quantification of lower airway antigen-specific antibodies using exhaled breath particles – an observational proof-of-concept study. eBioMedicine, 2026;133:106538.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2026.106538

For further information, please contact:

Tomas Gustafsson, CEO, info@pexa.se

About PExA AB:

PExA AB (corporate registration number 556956-9246) has developed PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument enabling non-invasive small airway liquid biopsy. The technology allows researchers to collect biological samples from the small airways of the lungs, providing molecular insights directly from the site of action and supporting biomarker discovery, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies, immunology research and future diagnostic applications.

PExA’s technology is used by leading research groups internationally and has contributed to more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Recent research comparing PExA with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has demonstrated substantial overlap in detected proteins, further strengthening the scientific evidence supporting the technology. PExA has also established Small Airway Atlas™, a growing molecular database designed to support research and biomarker discovery.

PExA aims to expand the use of its technology in pharmaceutical development and research into respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), while pursuing long-term opportunities in clinical diagnostics.

PExA’s B share is listed on Spotlight Stock Market.

This is an automatically generated English translation of the original Swedish press release. In the event of any discrepancy, the Swedish version prevails.

For the first time, researchers led by Professor Charlotte Thålin at Karolinska Institutet have demonstrated that antibodies targeting specific viruses can be analyzed in samples collected non-invasively from the small airways, deep within the lungs. PExA’s technology enables these samples to be collected without bronchoscopy or other invasive procedures and subsequently examined using advanced analytical methods.

For pharmaceutical companies and researchers, this opens the possibility of investigating whether future vaccines generate the desired immune responses deep within the lungs, rather than only in the blood or upper airways. This could be particularly valuable in developing new vaccines against respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19 and RSV.

Ultimately, the aim is to investigate not only whether the body responds to a vaccine, but also whether the appropriate immune response develops where protection is needed.

New Opportunities in Vaccine Development

The researchers analyzed samples from 28 individuals. Using PExA, samples were collected from the small airways and subsequently analyzed using sensitive immunological methods. This enabled the researchers to measure IgA and IgG antibodies targeting three important respiratory viruses: influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV.

The results demonstrate that these antibodies can be measured with high precision in the collected samples. The study also reveals differences in antibody profiles between the blood, nose and lower airways, highlighting the importance of being able to investigate immune responses directly in the lungs.

• Being able to analyze antigen-specific antibodies in samples from the lower airways without invasive sampling gives us new opportunities to study the immune system in the lungs. This is particularly interesting for the development of future mucosal vaccines, where we need to understand how immunity differs between different parts of the respiratory tract, says Charlotte Thålin, Professor at Karolinska Institutet and affiliated with Danderyd Hospital.

An important part of the research has been the use of sensitive analytical methods that make it possible to measure specific antibodies in the very small sample volumes collected using PExA’s technology.

• What makes these results particularly interesting is that we can use advanced analytical methods to measure virus-specific antibodies with high precision in the very small samples collected using PExA’s technology. The combination of non-invasive sampling and sensitive analyses gives us new opportunities to investigate local immune responses that have previously been difficult to study, says Mikael Åberg, Associate Professor at Uppsala University and SciLifeLab.

Opening the Door to a New Application Area in the Pharmaceutical Industry

The development of new vaccines against respiratory infections is a major international research field. One important objective is to develop vaccines that not only generate a systemic immune response but also strengthen local immunity in the respiratory tract.

When Charlotte Thålin was awarded a Wallenberg fellowship last year, she described the possibility of using PExA to investigate antibodies in the lower airways as a “game-changer” for the development of vaccines and antibody-based treatments.

The newly published study represents a concrete step forward, demonstrating that researchers can analyze virus-specific antibodies in samples collected non-invasively using PExA. The findings strengthen the potential for future applications of the technology to study local immune responses, compare vaccine candidates and monitor how the immune system responds over time.

This also opens opportunities in pharmacodynamics (PD), where researchers and pharmaceutical companies seek to investigate biological effects directly at the site where a treatment is intended to act.

• Charlotte Thålin and her colleagues have presented very exciting results that could have a significant impact on future vaccine research and drug development. We already collaborate with pharmaceutical companies in other areas of lung disease, and we now see how these findings could open the door to an entirely new application area. The ability to collect samples non-invasively from the small airways could become highly valuable for both vaccine researchers and pharmaceutical companies, says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

Scientific Publication

Aguilera K. et al. Non-invasive quantification of lower airway antigen-specific antibodies using exhaled breath particles – an observational proof-of-concept study. eBioMedicine, 2026;133:106538.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2026.106538

Read more in the press release from:

Karolinska Institutet – Lung antibodies can be measured in exhaled breath

Click here for a PDF version

For further information, please contact:

Tomas Gustafsson, CEO, info@pexa.se

About PExA AB:

PExA AB (corporate registration number 556956-9246) has developed PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument enabling non-invasive small airway liquid biopsy. The technology allows researchers to collect biological samples from the small airways of the lungs, providing molecular insights directly from the site of action and supporting biomarker discovery, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies, immunology research and future diagnostic applications.

PExA’s technology is used by leading research groups internationally and has contributed to more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Recent research comparing PExA with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has demonstrated substantial overlap in detected proteins, further strengthening the scientific evidence supporting the technology. PExA has also established Small Airway Atlas™, a growing molecular database designed to support research and biomarker discovery.

PExA aims to expand the use of its technology in pharmaceutical development and research into respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), while pursuing long-term opportunities in clinical diagnostics.

PExA’s B share is listed on Spotlight Stock Market. 

This is an automatically generated English translation of the original Swedish press release. In the event of any discrepancy, the Swedish version prevails.

Researchers at The Prince Charles Hospital and The University of Queensland in Brisbane compared samples collected using PExA with BAL samples from the same individuals. BAL is an established invasive method for sampling the distal lung and served as the reference in the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Biomolecules.

• By comparing samples from the same individuals, we found shared protein signals reflecting biologically relevant processes in the distal lung. What makes this particularly valuable is the ability to access this information non-invasively, says Dr Simon Apte, Chief Scientist at the Queensland Lung Transplant Service Research Laboratory at The Prince Charles Hospital.

PExA is already used internationally by academic researchers, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. The findings provide additional scientific support for its use and a foundation for broader research applications.

• For our customers in academia, healthcare, government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry, the origin and relevance of the sample material are crucial. The comparison with BAL provides strong support for PExA’s ability to capture biologically relevant information from the small airways. We see this as an important breakthrough that strengthens confidence in our technology. Across a large international research market, spanning occupational lung research, lung cancer research and drug development, we therefore now see further significant commercial opportunities to reach new customers and increase use among existing customers, says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

Non-invasive sampling of the small airways

PExA combines a specialized instrument with a sampling method and sample handling designed to collect tiny exhaled particles from the fluid lining the small airways. Participants follow a simple breathing procedure, without bronchoscopy or sedation, and the collected material is subsequently analyzed in the laboratory.

A clinical vision extending beyond silicosis

The Brisbane team’s research includes silicosis, a serious occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica.

• Having worked with the technology and seen these results, I am fully convinced of its potential as a research tool. We see opportunities beyond silicosis to investigate how different lung diseases develop and how patients respond to treatment. For people exposed to silica, our longer-term ambition is to identify molecular warning signs early enough to support action before irreversible damage occurs, says Professor Daniel Chambers, a lung transplant physician and interstitial lung disease specialist at The Prince Charles Hospital and The University of Queensland.

Supporting broader use in research and drug development

Repeated molecular sampling of the small airways is challenging when it relies on invasive procedures. PExA could make it more practical to follow biological changes in the same person over time and include larger groups and healthy reference populations in research studies.

Such molecular information could complement lung function tests and imaging, helping researchers investigate the biological processes underlying disease and differences in treatment response.

Potential research applications include:

• Biomarker discovery: identifying molecular signals associated with disease and progression, including the ability to utilize healthy control cohorts.
• Drug development: investigating drug exposure and biological responses in the lung, including longitudinal monitoring during clinical trials.
• Precision medicine: developing biomarkers to distinguish patient groups and support treatment selection.
• Diagnostics and monitoring: developing approaches to earlier detection and tracking disease and treatment response.

Although the current study focused on proteins, PExA also supports research into lipids and other molecular components.

A scientific milestone for PExA

The study found correlated protein signal patterns between PExA and BAL samples. Shared proteins included those associated with surfactant biology, immune defense, inflammation and fibrosis.

• Establishing that the biological material collected using PExA originates from the small airways has been a central objective since the company was founded. While several lines of indirect evidence have accumulated over the years, this study now provides direct evidence, across hundreds of protein analytes, that PExA samples share biologically relevant molecular features with matched BAL samples, which reflect the biology of the distal lung. These findings substantially strengthen the scientific foundation of our technology and support its further development to address the unmet need for earlier and more precise diagnosis of lung disease, says Jörgen Östling, Chief Scientific Officer at PExA.

About the study

The study compared matched PExA and BAL samples from three individuals with silicosis using the SomaScan 11K proteomics platform.

Between 343 and 688 protein analytes were detected in both sample types per participant, with correlated cross-protein signal patterns (Pearson r = 0.48–0.71). Of the 162 protein analytes detected in all three PExA samples, 131 (81%) were also detected in all three BAL samples. This overlap was four times that expected under random selection from the assay panel.

The research was supported by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, with which PExA has an existing instrument rental and data-sharing agreement.

Publication

Knuckey et al. Non-Invasive Distal Airway Proteomics by Particles in Exhaled Air (PExA) Sampling Demonstrates Shared Proteomic Features with Matched Bronchoalveolar Lavage. Biomolecules. 2026;16(10):1396.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16101396

For further information, please contact:

Tomas Gustafsson
Email: info@pexa.se

About PExA AB

PExA AB (corporate registration number 556956-9246) has developed PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers collect biological samples from the smallest airways in a smart way through a simple exhalation manoeuvre. PExA’s technology is currently used by leading research groups in several countries, and research using the instrument has resulted in approximately 60 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term objective is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for common diseases, such as lung cancer and COPD, for use globally in diagnosis or general screening at healthcare facilities. By the time sales to clinics become relevant, the company intends to have developed more convenient, commercially viable products for use closer to the patient. This would enable PExA to address a substantially broader market, currently encompassing many millions of patients worldwide.

PExA’s B share is listed on Spotlight Stock Market.

This is an automatically generated English translation of the original Swedish press release. In the event of any discrepancy, the Swedish version prevails.

The recently granted European patent covers an application of PExA’s technology for analysing particles in exhaled air from patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. The patent protects a technical solution in which information obtained from these particles can be used to monitor lung conditions and help optimise ventilator treatment.

The other positive patent decisions concern a technology for preparing collected biological material for subsequent analysis. The patent authorities in Europe and China have issued positive decisions indicating that patents may be granted for the invention. The corresponding invention is already protected by a granted patent in the United States.

“It is encouraging that we have now received several positive patent decisions that further strengthen our international patent portfolio. We continuously work to develop and protect both our technology and its various applications. This is an important part of our long-term efforts to strengthen PExA’s position and create opportunities for future commercial development,” says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

PExA’s technology enables non-invasive sampling of biological material from the small airways of the lungs for subsequent molecular analysis. The technology is used by leading research groups, government agencies and pharmaceutical companies around the world in areas including lung cancer, asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and occupational and environmentally related lung diseases. The company continuously works to further develop its technology platform and expand its applications in biomarker research, drug development and future diagnostics.

Patents Covered by This Press Release

A Device and Method for Non-Invasive Analysis of Particles During Medical Ventilation

• European patent: EP 2811902
• Granted on 23 September 2026.

A Sample Preparation Device

• European patent application: EP 22722803.8
• Chinese patent application: CN 202280029198.9
• Both applications have received positive decisions ahead of potential patent grants.
• Previously granted US patent: US 12,492,972.

For Further Information, Please Contact

Tomas Gustafsson, Email: info@pexa.se

This English translation has been generated automatically from the original Swedish press release. In the event of any discrepancies, the Swedish original shall prevail.

About PExA AB

PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that enables researchers to conveniently collect biological samples from the smallest airways of the lungs through a simple exhalation manoeuvre.

PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several countries, and research conducted using the instrument has resulted in approximately 60 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method.

The company’s long-term objective is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for widespread diseases, such as lung cancer and COPD, for use globally in diagnosis or general screening at healthcare facilities.

By the time sales to clinics become relevant, the company intends to have developed more patient-friendly, convenient and commercially adapted products. This would enable PExA to address a significantly broader market, which currently encompasses many millions of patients worldwide.

PExA’s Class B shares are listed on Spotlight Stock Market.

The system was installed at the end of September in the pulmonary function unit at Universitätsmedizin Greifswald and is now in place and ready to be used in the ongoing research.

The order, announced in May 2026, covers a 15-month rental period. With the installation now completed, an additional PExA system is in place in Germany, further strengthening PExA’s installed base of instruments.

BAuA has already been using PExA in Berlin and, as part of the project, has sent collected samples to Greifswald for analysis. The new installation means that PExA sampling can now also be carried out directly in Greifswald, where clinical expertise in pulmonary function diagnostics is combined with access to advanced molecular analysis.

PExA sampling will be performed at Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin B, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald. The samples are subsequently planned to be analysed in collaboration with the Department of Functional Genomics at Universität Greifswald, which has extensive expertise in areas including proteomics and other omics-based analyses.

The work forms part of BAuA’s ongoing research into airborne particles, bioaerosols and respiratory infections, which PExA previously described when the order was announced. More information about the research project is available on BAuA’s website:

https://www.baua.de/EN/Research/Research-projects/f2584

– It is very encouraging to see the order announced earlier this year now translated into another PExA system installed and ready for research. The setup in Greifswald combines clinical sampling with strong analytical expertise, creating very good conditions for productive use of the system. For PExA, this is also important as we continue to increase the number of instruments installed and used by research groups, says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

PExA will continue to support the teams in Greifswald with sampling workflow, sample handling and use of the system.

The 15-month rental agreement is valued at approximately EUR 50,000, excluding consumables purchased according to use and study design.

For further information, please contact:

Tomas Gustafsson
Email: info@pexa.se

About PExA AB

PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that enables non-invasive collection of biological material from the small airways through a simple breathing manoeuvre. PExA’s technology is used by leading research groups and institutions globally. Research using the method has so far resulted in around 60 scientific publications. 20261016 Pressmeddelande PExA i…

PExA is used in research within areas including biomarker discovery, site-of-action PK/PD, lung cancer, COPD, asthma, infections and vaccine-related immune responses. The broad use of the technology and the growing body of scientific evidence are helping to build the foundation for future applications in diagnostics, disease monitoring and more precise treatment. 20261016 Pressmeddelande PExA i…

PExA’s B share is listed on Spotlight Stock Market. 20261016 Pressmeddelande PExA i…

This is an automatically generated English translation of the original Swedish press release. In the event of any discrepancy, the Swedish version shall prevail.

PExA participated with its own booth, where the company was represented by CEO Tomas Gustafsson, CTO Svante Höjer and CSO Jörgen Östling. Also attending the congress were the company’s founder, Anna-Carin Olin, from Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy/Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the company’s scientific advisor Åsa Wheelock, senior researcher and Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet.

At the PExA booth, visitors were introduced to the latest developments and opportunities for the company’s technology within biomarker research, PK (pharmacokinetics), PD (pharmacodynamics) and future diagnostics. Small Airway Atlas™, PExA’s knowledge platform for molecular findings from the small airways, was also presented.

“We had many visitors to our booth and strong interest from both new and existing collaborators and customers. The potential applications of our technology within respiratory disease are very broad, which was reflected in the visitors we met, representing areas ranging from lung cancer, COPD, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis to paediatric lung disease. We had extensive discussions with representatives from healthcare, academia and the pharmaceutical industry from around 20 countries worldwide,” says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

In connection with the congress, three accepted abstracts were presented based on research carried out at hospitals and institutes in Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany using PExA’s technology. The studies were based on PExA’s non-invasive method for collecting biomarkers from the small airways and covered areas including pulmonary fibrosis and COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ERS, the European Respiratory Society, is Europe’s largest scientific and clinical organisation in the field of respiratory disease. Its members include researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals from around the world. ERS annually organises one of the world’s largest congresses in its field, attracting a large number of participants from across the globe. This year’s congress took place in Barcelona from 5 to 9 September.

About PExA AB:

PExA AB PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed the PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers intelligently collect biological samples from the smallest airways through a simple exhalation maneuver. PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several different countries and research with the instrument has resulted in approximately 60 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term goal is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for popular diseases (e.g. lung cancer and COPD) to be used globally for diagnosis or general screening at facilities where care is offered. The company intends at the time it is relevant to sell to clinics to have developed more patient-friendly, flexible and commercial products, which means that PExA addresses a significantly wider market, which today includes several million patients globally.

PExA’s B share is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market.

The ERS International Congress is one of the most important broad international meeting places in respiratory medicine and research. It brings together researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies, and other stakeholders from across the field. The 2025 congress attracted more than 22,000 participants.

PExA will be present at Booth X10, where the company will demonstrate how its technology enables non-invasive and repeatable sampling of biological material directly from the small airways – the lung’s site of action. Visitors will be able to explore how the platform is used within Biomarker Discovery, PK/PD[1] and Diagnostics, as well as Small Airway Atlas™, PExA’s growing knowledge platform for molecular findings from the small airways.

– ERS is one of the most important broad international meeting places in the respiratory field and gives us the opportunity to meet researchers, pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies, and other stakeholders from around the world during a few intensive days. We are also very pleased that PExA is once again represented not only in the exhibition, but also in the scientific programme. This year, three scientific abstracts in which our technology is used have been accepted for presentation. It illustrates both the breadth of the research and the growing international interest in studying biological material directly from the small airways in a non-invasive way, says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

Three scientific contributions featuring PExA

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis – P4O2, the Netherlands

A contribution from Amsterdam UMC and the P4O2 consortium describes a longitudinal study in which PExA is used as part of the work to identify biomarkers and risk factors for the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg

A second contribution, from Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the University of Gothenburg, shows that surfactant lipids collected using PExA distinguish patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from healthy controls and may represent a new biomarker approach for the disease.

COPD – Fraunhofer ITEM, Germany

A contribution from Fraunhofer ITEM shows associations between exhaled particles and biomarkers, disease severity and lung function in COPD, supporting the use of PExA as a tool for studying changes in the distal airways.

The ERS International Congress 2026 takes place in Barcelona on 5–9 September 2026. PExA will be present throughout the congress at Booth X10.

More information about the P4O2 project: COPD-PARASOL-ILD is carried out together with Amsterdam UMC, UMC Groningen, Utrecht University, PExA and a global pharmaceutical company. Read more about the project and its participants on the P4O2 website and in PExA’s earlier press release.

For further information, please contact:
Tomas Gustafsson, CEO, info@pexa.se

About PExA AB:

PExA AB PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed the PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers intelligently collect biological samples from the smallest airways through a simple exhalation maneuver. PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several different countries and research with the instrument has resulted in approximately 60 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term goal is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for popular diseases (e.g. lung cancer and COPD) to be used globally for diagnosis or general screening at facilities where care is offered. The company intends at the time it is relevant to sell to clinics to have developed more patient-friendly, flexible and commercial products, which means that PExA addresses a significantly wider market, which today includes several million patients globally.

PExA’s B share is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market.

[1] PK/PD: PK = pharmacokinetics, how a drug is absorbed and distributed in the body. PD = pharmacodynamics, the biological effect of the drug at the site of action.

During the summer, the research has been featured in several Australian TV broadcasts, including SBS World News and Channel 9/9News, as well as by the Queensland Government and Australian industry and medical media. The focus is on the potential to use a simple, non-invasive breath test to detect early biological changes associated with silicosis – before severe and irreversible lung damage has developed.

PExA has an established collaboration with the Queensland Lung Transplant Service at The Prince Charles Hospital. In August 2025, PExA announced that, following an earlier evaluation phase, the collaboration had been expanded through a rental agreement for the PExA 2.1 system and a formal data-sharing collaboration. Anonymised technical data from the study are shared with PExA and contribute to the company’s growing knowledge base on biological markers in the small airways.

Silicosis is a serious and irreversible lung disease caused by inhalation of very small particles of crystalline silica. Exposure occurs across a wide range of occupations, from construction and industrial workers to stonemasons and miners. An estimated 600,000 Australians are exposed to silica dust at work each year.

The research team at The Prince Charles Hospital is investigating whether PExA can be used to identify early biological changes in people exposed to silica dust. PExA non-invasively collects microscopic particles from the small airways through a simple breathing manoeuvre. These particles contain biological material, including proteins, which can subsequently be analysed to search for early disease signatures.

Traditionally, sampling from the deep regions of the lungs has required considerably more invasive procedures, such as bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), performed in a hospital setting. The research team has compared matched samples from PExA, BAL and blood to investigate how well the biological content obtained through the simple breath test reflects the information obtained through more invasive sampling. The results of this comparison are now being prepared for scientific publication.

Professor Daniel Chambers at The Prince Charles Hospital highlights in the TV coverage the contrast between traditional invasive lung sampling and PExA’s simple breath test. He also describes how the research has demonstrated similarities between the material obtained using PExA and that obtained through invasive sampling methods.

According to Chambers, the potential extends beyond diagnosing silicosis at an earlier stage. If early biological changes can be identified before irreversible lung damage has occurred, this could provide an opportunity for earlier intervention and potentially even prevent exposed individuals from developing the disease.

“It is very encouraging to see the attention that both the research and PExA are now receiving in Australia. We have been working with the Brisbane group for some time, and it is particularly interesting that they are comparing material from our simple, non-invasive breath test with considerably more invasive lung sampling. The possibility of identifying biological changes in the small airways before serious disease has developed very clearly demonstrates the potential we see in PExA technology,” says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.

The research is supported by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation through its Tradie Health Institute, which focuses on occupational health in sectors including construction, mining and industry. The researchers also have a stated vision that, in the longer term, the technology could be used in a portable format for on-site screening of people working in high-risk occupations.

The continued research has also received support from industry. Australian construction company CPB Contractors has contributed AUD 300,000 over three years to the next phase of the research programme.

The research and PExA have received coverage from, among others:

• SBS World News – TV coverage of the silicosis research and PExA
• Channel 9 / 9News – TV coverage from The Prince Charles Hospital
• Queensland Government / Metro North Health – World-first research offers hope for earlier occupational lung disease diagnosis
• The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation / The Common Good – Protecting the lungs of Australia’s tradies
• Build Australia – coverage of PExA and the silicosis research
• Oncology Republic – coverage of research into earlier detection of silicosis

For further information, please contact:
Tomas Gustafsson, CEO, info@pexa.se

About PExA AB:

PExA AB PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed the PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers intelligently collect biological samples from the smallest airways through a simple exhalation maneuver. PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several different countries and research with the instrument has resulted in approximately 50 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term goal is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for popular diseases (e.g. lung cancer and COPD) to be used globally for diagnosis or general screening at facilities where care is offered. The company intends at the time it is relevant to sell to clinics to have developed more patient-friendly, flexible and commercial products, which means that PExA addresses a significantly wider market, which today includes several million patients globally.

PExA’s B share is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market.

Under the agreement, the customer will rent ten systems for a period of 18 months. The total order value during the agreement period amounts to approximately SEK 7.5 million, including consumables, service, support and related services. Half of the amount, totaling just over SEK 3.5 million, is expected to be invoiced during the second quarter of 2026. Thereafter, recurring quarterly rental revenues will follow during the agreement period. Deliveries and installations are planned to commence during the third quarter of 2026.

The study will use PExA’s technology for non-invasive collection of biological material from the small airways of the lung. The collected samples enable biomarker analyses and drug-related analyses directly from the “site of action”, meaning the part of the lung affected by the disease and where the treatment is most relevant.

“This is an important milestone for PExA. The fact that a global pharmaceutical company has chosen to use our technology in a clinical multicenter study is a strong validation of the platform we have built over many years. The agreement also creates an important reference for PExA and demonstrates that we have the capacity to deliver, install and support larger international research and drug development projects,” says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA AB.

PExA’s technology enables the collection of biological material via exhaled breath from the distal parts of the lung. The method creates new opportunities in biomarker development, drug development, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies (PK/PD), as well as future precision medicine and diagnostic applications.

This information is information that PExA AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the stated contact person, on 2026-06-23.

This is an English translation of the original Swedish press release. In the event of any discrepancy, the Swedish original shall prevail.

Click here for a PDF version

For further information, please contact:
Tomas Gustafsson, CEO, info@pexa.se

About PExA AB:

PExA AB PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed the PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers intelligently collect biological samples from the smallest airways through a simple exhalation maneuver. PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several different countries and research with the instrument has resulted in approximately 50 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term goal is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for popular diseases (e.g. lung cancer and COPD) to be used globally for diagnosis or general screening at facilities where care is offered. The company intends at the time it is relevant to sell to clinics to have developed more patient-friendly, flexible and commercial products, which means that PExA addresses a significantly wider market, which today includes several million patients globally.

PExA’s B share is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market.

The upgrade adds new functionality intended to simplify and improve the efficiency of sample collection and sample handling in the customer’s research activities.

The customer is already using PExA’s technology for non-invasive sampling from the small airways. With this upgrade, sample handling is expected to be substantially simplified and the workflow to become significantly more time-efficient, with considerably less manual handling in connection with sample collection.

The planned work includes continued patient sampling, with proteomics as a prioritized analytical area.

Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA, comments:
“It is very gratifying that one of our U.S. government agency customers is upgrading its PExA system, demonstrating continued and deepened confidence in the technology. This is the first order in which this new functionality is being purchased as an upgrade to an already installed system, and it is very positive to see that our continuous efforts to improve workflow, usability and practical sample handling are appreciated by our customers. The order is also in line with growing interest from government agencies in research.”

The order value amounts to approximately SEK 250,000.

This is an English translation of the original Swedish press release. In the event of any discrepancy, the Swedish original shall prevail.

For further information, please contact:
Tomas Gustafsson, CEO, info@pexa.se

About PExA AB:

PExA AB PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed the PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers intelligently collect biological samples from the smallest airways through a simple exhalation maneuver. PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several different countries and research with the instrument has resulted in approximately 60 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term goal is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for popular diseases (e.g. lung cancer and COPD) to be used globally for diagnosis or general screening at facilities where care is offered. The company intends at the time it is relevant to sell to clinics to have developed more patient-friendly, flexible and commercial products, which means that PExA addresses a significantly wider market, which today includes several million patients globally.

PExA’s B share is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market.