Avacta and Cytiva to work on test that can diagnose Covid-19 in minutes
Avacta Group and Cytiva have announced a collaboration to produce a point-of-care rapid Covid-19 test.
The partnership will seek to develop and manufacture a test intended for the screening of large populations to diagnose the coronavirus infection.
Existing tests are currently not suitable for screening large numbers of people for the infection as they are laboratory based and can take up to several days to get results.
Whittlesford-based Avacta, the developer of Affimer biotherapeutics and reagents, is already generating Affimer reagents to detect Covid-19, but will now work with Cytiva, formerly GE Healthcare Life Sciences.
The aim is to develop and manufacture a test capable of diagnosing the infection in minutes using a respiratory sample such as saliva.
Cytiva will transfer the diagnostic assay onto its proprietary point-of-care test strip platform.
Both companies will work together to complete analytical and clinical validation of the test as quickly as possible.
Dr Alastair Smith, chief executive officer of Avacta Group, said: “I am delighted that we have established this collaboration with Cytiva to develop, manufacture and commercialise a rapid test for Covid-19 infection.
“Importantly, the test will indicate if a person has the virus now, whether they are showing symptoms or not, and will do so in minutes, in-situ with no need for laboratory equipment.
“Unfortunately, many millions of people around the world will ultimately become infected and it is likely to be an annual occurrence.
“There is a clear and urgent need for a test that can be carried out quickly in the community to limit the spread of the virus and track its progress.
“We have demonstrated before in the case of the Zika virus that the Affimer platform can very quickly provide highly-specific reagents in response to an outbreak of an infectious disease.
“Our partnership with Cytiva means that we now have a global technology partner for a Covid-19 diagnostic which is essential if a practical and commercial solution is to be provided to governments and healthcare providers around the world promptly.
“Hundreds of millions of tests will be needed for population screening and we will be working hard to deliver an Affimer-based solution on Cytiva’s platform, and potentially on the platforms of other partners with whom we are in active discussion, as soon as possible.
Klaus Hochleitner, technology product specialist global lead at Cytiva, said: “There is an urgent unmet need for rapid tests to screen large numbers of people for Covid-19.
“Affimers are tools that can be designed quickly and very specifically for specific epitopes.
“We will support Avacta with technology transfer and usability to ensure the test is ready at the earliest point for use in the field.”
The aim is for Avacta to have developed Affimer reagents for a Covid-19 test by the end of May to be transferred to Cytiva and potentially other global diagnostic manufacturers to implement in a test strip.
The company is also raising £5.75million - including £3.75m by issuing more than 20.8 million shares at 18p, subject to shareholder approval, and a subscription comprising more than 11 million shares, worth £2m, from Clare Hughe, wife of Richard Hughes, co founder of Zeus Capital, and Mahmud Kamani, co-founder of Boohoo.com.
Avacta said it does not expect revenues to be materially affected by Covid-19. 0
Among its recent achievements has been an agreement with ADC Therapeutics, the expansion of its LG Chem Life Sciences Partnership and the launch of a joint venture in South Korea with Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co.
Read more
Cambridge engineers use industrial modelling techniques to help Addenbrooke’s Hospital
