NEW YORK (360Dx) – Sona Nanotech said today that it has signed a collaboration agreement with UK-based Olm Diagnostics to develop point-of-care diagnostic tests for infectious diseases.
Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Nova Scotia, Canada-based Sona said it manufactures gold nanorods that can produce a variety of colors when they are integrated into a test strip, making them ideal for multiplexing. Olm Diagnostics, based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, is seeking to develop rapid, multiplexed lateral flow assays to detect infectious diseases in humans that would help doctors performing primary diagnoses.
Gemma Johnson, Olm Diagnostics' scientific director, said in a statement that with potential improvements in test performance and the ability to multiplex simply and quickly, the firms could have a device ready for clinical evaluation in months.
Sona's CEO Darren Rowles said that Olm is an established brand with a track record of developing rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests for medical areas that are poorly served, such as fungal infections. "This collaboration has the potential to increase Sona's reach into valuable new markets," he said.