Tauriga Sciences Inc. and Aegea
Biotechnologies Inc. Enter into Collaboration Agreement to Develop
a Rapid, Multiplexed Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Designed to
Exhibit Superior Performance
NEW YORK, NY and SAN DIEGO, CA -- April 7, 2020 -- InvestorsHub
NewsWire -- Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:
TAUG) (“Tauriga”) and Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc. (“Aegea”)
have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop a rapid,
multiplexed COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) test designed to have
superior sensitivity and selectivity (the “SARS-CoV-2 Test”). This
PCR-based test will measure the SARS-CoV-2 virus from nasal (or
other) swabs by utilizing Aegea’s patented and clinically validated
technologies, including Selector Technology, which have been
cross-licensed and used in over 15,000 oncology patient samples to
successfully detect ultra-rare mutations. In existing assays
Aegea’s patented technologies demonstrate exquisite specificity and
very high sensitivity.
As designed for SARS-CoV-2 detection, the assay can be run on
most PCR-based instrument platforms. It is also designed to be
multiplexed and will internally verify the presence of the virus
when it is present. Furthermore, the reaction is designed to run in
a single well, using a single amplification reaction. At the
same time, it will deliver an enhanced level of genetic information
concerning the current strains of the virus, as they exist today,
or as they may evolve. This can be done without sacrificing time or
introducing any cumbersome processing steps.
There are several important global health benefits of developing
a rapid, multiplexed novel coronavirus test. Because the Aegea
technology can detect targets with single nucleotide resolution and
high sensitivity, the SARS-CoV-2 Test should have the ability to
detect and measure viral shed, even in patients who are
asymptomatic. This provides valuable information on how
contagious and virulent the patient may be. The information
can be used to minimize and contain disease spread throughout the
global community and help determine who is ready to return to the
workforce. Another key advantage is that the SARS-CoV-2 Test
will be able to differentiate between different strains of
SARS-CoV-2 virus. Aegea’s Selector Technology can be used to
identify current COVID-19 strains, as well as new strains if and
when the virus mutates.
Serological (blood-based) tests do not measure active
infections; they measure antibodies to identify patients who have
recovered from COVID-19 or are in the late stage of the
disease. During the approximately 2-3 week “window” period
between the start of the infection and the time at which patients
become serologically positive, it is critical to have assays, like
the assay Aegea is developing, to detect the virus directly, during
the “window” period, when the virus is most virulent.
Tauriga’s CEO, Mr. Seth Shaw, states, “We are enthusiastic about
collaborating with Aegea Biotechnologies to use next generation
nucleic acid technologies to help address this global
pandemic. Tauriga believes in applying the best life science
to make a direct impact on human lives--Aegea is the ideal
partner. Their executive management team has a proven track
record. They collectively are inventors on more than 75
issued US patents and have helped create over $7 billion in value
in associated companies.”
Lyle Arnold, Ph.D., Aegea’s founder and CEO, adds, “Tauriga is
providing important resources to quickly commercialize our highly
sensitive and specific novel coronavirus test. We value the
extensive and high-level relationships with potential distributors
and customers that Tauriga has built over the
years.”
Dr. Arnold is an inventor or co-inventor on 54 issued US patents
and more than 200 issued and pending patents world-wide, which in
aggregate have been core to products that have generated billions
of dollars in revenue. Dr. Arnold is the inventor of the Selector
technology being used in the SARS-CoV-2 Test described
here.
ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES INC.
Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG)
is a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, engaged
in several major business activities and initiatives. The
company manufactures and distributes several proprietary retail
products and product lines, mainly focused on the Cannabidiol
(“CBD”) and Cannabigerol (“CBG”) Edibles market segment. The
Company’s commercialization strategy consists of a broad array of
retail customers, distributors, and a fast-growing E-Commerce
business segment (E-Commerce website: www.taurigum.com). Please
visit our corporate website, for additional information, as well as
inquiries, at www.tauriga.com
Complementary to the Company’s retail business, are its two
ongoing biotechnology initiatives. The first one relates to
the development of a Pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum™,
for nausea regulation (specifically designed to help patients that
are subjected to ongoing chemotherapy treatment). On March
18, 2020, the Company announced that it filed a provisional U.S.
patent application covering its pharmaceutical grade version of
Tauri-Gum™. The Patent, filed with the U.S.P.T.O. is Titled
“MEDICATED CBD COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURING, AND METHODS
OF TREATMENT”. The second one relates to a collaboration
agreement with Aegea Biotechnologies Inc. for the co-development of
a rapid, multiplexed, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) test with
superior sensitivity and selectivity.
The Company is headquartered in New York City and operates a
regional office in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, the Company
operates a full time E-Commerce fulfillment center located in
LaGrangeville, New York.
ABOUT AEGEA BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc., is a privately held core technology
company based in San Diego, CA. Aegea has an extensive
intellectual property portfolio, with a total of 10 issued US
patents related to nucleic acid technologies, plus foreign
equivalents. The company is developing a highly sensitive and
specific test for SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus, COVID-19), as well
as a series of reagents, research kits and in-vitro diagnostic
(IVD) products for molecular analysis based on innovative, patented
and proprietary nucleic acid chemistries and methodologies.
AEGEA's offerings are designed to deliver assay and test results
with superior sensitivity and specificity--quickly and using
established assay formats, and associated instrumentation. In
addition, AEGEA offers custom solutions, including assay
development and adaptation of its technologies for different
platforms, and various types of businesses, including
pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostic, and DNA sequencing companies,
as well as others. Aegea’s Selector Technology patent and
related recently published, peer-reviewed scientific papers can be
found in the “Patented Technology” section of Aegea’s corporate
website: www.aegeabiotech.com.
DISCLAIMER -- Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements”
as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
which represent management’s beliefs and assumptions concerning
future events. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of
the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to
update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances.
NON SOLICITATION:
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities, nor will
there be any sale of these securities in any state or other
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not
permitted.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Tauriga Sciences, Inc.
555 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Seth M. Shaw
Email: sshaw@tauriga.com
cell # (917) 796 9926
Instagram: @tauri_gum
Twitter: @SethMShaw
Corp. Website: www.tauriga.com
E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com