Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CEMI), a leader in point-of-care
(POC) diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, is collaborating
with FIND to develop a POC test that can identify multiple
life-threatening acute febrile illnesses common in the Asia Pacific
region. Over the next twelve months, Chembio and FIND will endeavor
to develop a simple, rapid, and cost-effective test based on
Chembio’s proprietary DPP® technology platform to detect multiple
diseases simultaneously.
Currently available POC diagnostic tests lack
the ability to simultaneously detect multiple acute febrile
illnesses. Diagnosis based on clinical criteria is difficult
because many illnesses have similar clinical symptoms, such as
fever, headache, chills or muscle and joint pain. In
malaria-endemic countries, patients with fever who test negative
for malaria are often prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics in the
absence of a confirmed diagnosis. In the Asia Pacific region, some
of the most common causes of fever do not respond to antibiotics of
any kind. The result is often inappropriate treatment, which can
result in worsening illness and even death for very ill patients,
and contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance.
The availability of a simple multiplex test able
to quickly identify the common causes of fever would support both
the clinical management of patients and safeguard public health.
Chembio’s DPP® Fever Panel Assay will be designed to include a
quality control and nine tests aimed at parasitic, viral and
bacterial pathogens commonly responsible for fever symptoms in the
Asia Pacific region, including malaria (four Plasmodium species,
using pLDH and HRP2), dengue virus, Zika virus, chikungunya virus,
leptospirosis, Rickettsia typhi, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and
Orientia tsutsugamushi.
John Sperzel, Chembio's CEO,
commented, "We are pleased to collaborate with
FIND toward the development of an Asia Pacific fever panel, based
on our patented DPP® technology. We believe our platform offers the
ability to develop rapid diagnostic tests that are simple,
cost-effective and capable of testing for multiple pathogens
simultaneously. Developing such a test, to address the most common
causes of fever in Asia Pacific, is aligned with our growth
strategy and supports our recent decision to acquire Malaysia-based
RVR Diagnostics.”
“The rise in antimicrobial resistance, including
as a result of the inappropriate use of antibiotics and other
medicines, is rapidly becoming a dominant global health issue with
alarming statistics on the number of related deaths,” said Dr.
Catharina Boehme, FIND CEO. “An affordable, rapid, multi-pathogen
test would guide the appropriate use of medicines through the
accurate diagnosis of the most common causes of fever in the Asia
Pacific region. We urgently need tests like this to ensure
effective treatment and care for patients, as well as for the
responsible stewardship of antibiotics and other medicines.”
In launching this new program in collaboration
with FIND, Chembio affirms its commitment to the development of new
and innovative POC diagnostic tests for life threatening febrile
illnesses. Chembio recently completed the development of a fever
panel for four diseases with outbreak potential, including Ebola
and Marburg, and has initiated field testing in Africa and South
America, also in collaboration with FIND.
About Chembio Diagnostics
Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. develops,
manufactures, licenses and markets proprietary rapid diagnostic
tests in the growing $8.0 billion point-of-care testing
market. Chembio markets each of its DPP® HIV 1/2 Assay, HIV
1/2 STAT-PAK® Assay, and SURE CHECK® HIV 1/2 Assay, with these
Chembio brand names, in the U.S. and internationally both directly
and through third-party distributors. The Company's SURE
CHECK® HIV 1/2 Assay previously has been exclusively sold in the
U.S. as Clearview® Complete HIV 1/2 Assay.
Chembio has developed a patented point-of-care
(POC) test platform technology, the Dual Path Platform (DPP®)
technology, which has significant advantages over lateral-flow
technologies. This technology is providing Chembio with a
significant pipeline of business opportunities for the development
and manufacture of new products.
Headquartered in Medford, NY, Chembio is
licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and is certified for the
global market under the International Standards Organization (ISO)
directive 13485. Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc. is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. For more information,
please visit: www.chembio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained herein that are not
historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking
statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or
current expectations of the Company and its management. Such
statements, which are estimates only, reflect management's current
views, are based on certain assumptions, and involve risks and
uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ
materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a
number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety
of factors, including, but not limited to Chembio's ability to
obtain additional financing and to obtain regulatory approvals in a
timely manner, as well as the demand for Chembio's products.
Chembio undertakes no obligation to publicly update these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that
occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in Chembio's
expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the
occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact
Chembio's success are more fully disclosed in Chembio's most recent
public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
About FIND
FIND was established in 2003 as a global
non-profit dedicated to accelerating the development, evaluation
and delivery of high-quality, affordable diagnostic tests for
poverty-related diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria,
HIV/AIDS, Ebola, sleeping sickness, hepatitis C, leishmaniasis,
Chagas disease and Buruli ulcer, as well as for fighting
antimicrobial resistance and supporting outbreak preparedness. Over
the last decade, FIND has partnered in the delivery of 20 new
diagnostic tools, including ten for tuberculosis, and created an
enabling environment for numerous others through the provision of
specimen banks, reagent development and better market visibility.
FIND also supports better access to new diagnostics through price
negotiations, implementation, quality assurance and lab
strengthening work. FIND has over 100 partners globally, including
research institutes and laboratories, health ministries and
national disease control programmes, commercial partners, bilateral
and multilateral organizations, especially WHO, and clinical trial
sites.
Media contacts:
Chembio Diagnostics
Susan Norcott
Tel. +1 (631) 924-1135, ext. 125
Email snorcott@chembio.com
FIND
Julie Archer
Tel. +41 22 749 29 33/+41 79 830 63 64
Email Julie.Archer@finddx.org
Chembio Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CEMI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Chembio Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CEMI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024