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New Partnership to Develop Point-of-Care Diagnostic Tests for Ebola and Febrile Illness

Chembio Diagnostics Systems
27 Oct 2014
Sonia Nicholas
Managing Editor and Clinical Lead

Product news

New partnership aims to develop a standalone point-of-care DPP® Ebola test

Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a leader in point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Integrated BioTherapeutics, Inc. (IBT), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery of novel vaccines and therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Chembio will combine its patented DPP® technology with IBT’s proprietary Ebola reagents to develop POC diagnostic tests for Ebola and febrile illness. Chembio will have exclusive rights to any POC product developed through this agreement. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

While Ebola has caused multiple outbreaks since 1976, the frequency of epidemics in the past 15 years has drastically increased and the current outbreak in West Africa has reached unprecedented dimensions. Over 10,000 people have been infected with Ebola and recent cases outside the African continent are drawing concern from public health officials. Currently, the diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever can only be performed in specialized laboratories. This limitation significantly delays the identification and isolation of the patients who have Ebola and in turn likely makes it more difficult to control an outbreak or prevent new epidemics.

Javan Esfandiari, Chembio's Chief Science & Technology Officer and the inventor of Chembio’s DPP® technology, commented, "We are pleased to partner with IBT, a biotechnology company with extensive experience and a substantial number of reagents for Ebola and other filoviruses, to develop a DPP® Ebola assay. In 2013, we partnered with the U.S. Government to develop a multiplex POC febrile illness assay which, in 20 minutes, can detect antigens from five different viruses, bacteria, and parasites with a single, finger-stick drop of blood. The resulting product, DPP® Febrile Illness Assay, is currently in clinical trials in several countries, including the region of West Africa. Our intent is to develop a stand-alone POC DPP® Ebola test and also include an Ebola test as part of our existing multiplex DPP® Febrile Illness Assay.”

John Sperzel, Chembio's Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The partnership with IBT is a significant step in our continued efforts to expand Chembio’s POC infectious disease portfolio. Our prior success developing the multiplex DPP® Febrile Illness Assay demonstrates Chembio’s ability to create such tests in a short amount of time, and we believe this partnership illustrates the value that our DPP® technology brings to the broader diagnostic market. Through this agreement, Chembio’s goal is to further develop innovative, sensitive and specific POC diagnostic tests for detection of febrile illnesses, including Ebola.”

M. Javad Aman, President and Chief Scientific Officer of IBT, commented, “We are facing a humanitarian crisis and global public health challenge. Development of a rapid POC test for Ebola will be a critical step towards enabling early detection and quarantine that could help save countless lives. Through this partnership, the capabilities of the two companies will be combined to produce a POC product we believe will meet this serious challenge in a timely manner.”

Chembio is represented by Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP and IBT is represented by Crowell & Moring LLP in this transaction

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MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.ImmunologyImmunological techniques measure and characterize immune responses. Immunology kits and analysis systems often use techniques such as ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunodiffusion assays, Immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Immunologists use equipment such as flow Cytometers, plate readers, plate washers and fluorescent microscopes.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.Point-of-CarePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) or Near Patient Testing (NPT) products are available for urine, blood and other clinical chemistry analyses. POCT includes: blood glucose testing, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, rapid coagulation testing (PT / INR), rapid cardiac markers diagnostics, drugs of abuse screening, urine strips testing, pregnancy testing, fecal occult blood analysis, food pathogens screening, hemoglobin diagnostics, infectious disease testing and cholesterol screening.Clinical MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.EbolaThe Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa is the largest in history. Rapid diagnostic tests for this hemorrhagic fever are desperately needed, and companies are working hard to develop new point-of-care, RT-PCR and automated desktop Ebola kits and systems.

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New Partnership to Develop Point-of-Care Diagnostic Tests for Ebola and Febrile Illness