NEW YORK — Virusight Diagnostic has agreed to partner with Technogenetics on the development of new tests based on a jointly developed technology currently being used for COVID-19 diagnosis, the companies said on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, the firms launched the TGS Velox Ag COVID-19 POCT Saliva, a plasmonic resonance-based colorimetric assay designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 antigens and/or virions in oral swab samples. The test, which runs on Virusight's SpectraLit portable spectrophotometer, has shown 96.3 percent accuracy compared with RT-PCR and provides results within 20 seconds.
Under the terms of a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), Dusseldorf, Germany-based Virusight will work with Technogenetics to develop new tests based on the technology underlying the COVID-19 test.
"This novel diagnostic platform is a unique combination of a specific tailored biomolecular patented reagent that binds directly to the virus, measured by a high-resolution spectrophotometer device," Salvatore Cincotti, CEO of Milan-based Technogenetics, said in a statement. "This scientific breakthrough led to enhanced engagement between our companies to expand the scope to other potential diagnostic applications, such as HPV, HIV, urine analysis, biomarkers for early cancer detection, and more."
Additional terms of the MOU were not disclosed.