NEW YORK — PathSensors said on Thursday that it has signed an agreement expanding its exclusive license to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-developed pathogen detection technology to include clinical applications.
According to the Baltimore-based company, its first clinical application of the technology will be for SARS-CoV-2.
The technology — called cellular analysis and notification of antigen risks and yields, or CANARY — uses cells that have been genetically engineered with bioluminescent proteins and pathogen-specific antibodies. These cells, dubbed biosensors, emit light when they bind to target pathogens. PathSensors has been using the technology for environmental testing applications including mail security and food safety.
Under the terms of the deal with MIT, PathSensors said it can now use CANARY for healthcare applications and aims to develop a SARS-CoV-2 biosensor for point-of-care testing for the virus.
Additional terms were not disclosed.