NEW YORK (360Dx) – Chembio Diagnostics announced today a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts General Hospital to develop point-of-care diagnostic tests for patients with fever symptoms.
Chembio will combine its DPP technology with biomarkers developed at Mass General to develop POC tests for typhoid and febrile illness. The biomarkers were developed via high-throughput immunoproteomic technologies, Chembio said.
Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Edward Ryan, director of global infectious diseases at Mass General, said in a statement that the collaboration could result in a tool that would limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics and prevent the development of drug-resistant organisms.
"This work would have huge clinical and public health implications, not only assisting in the clinical care of patients, but also in understanding regional burden of disease," he said. "Such data would assist governments and public health teams in targeting appropriate control interventions."
Chembio's antibody-based DPP, or Dual Path Platform, technology detects non-treponemal antibodies to screen for infection and treponemal antibodies to confirm active infections.
Last month, the company reached a deal with LumiraDx to develop POC diagnostic tests for infectious diseases to address "significant global health threats."