Exclusive Nanotechnology Enables Precise
Detection of Critical "Cytokine Storm" Markers
TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - SQI Diagnostics, Inc.
(TSX-V: SQD) (OTCQX-US: SQIDF), a precision medicine company that
discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative
rapid diagnostic testing for healthcare professionals, patients and
consumers worldwide, today announced that it, in collaboration with
McMaster University researchers,
created a new technology that can detect an elusive protein
bio-marker from human blood to measure the severity of
COVID-19.
Researchers at McMaster University
(Hamilton, ON) in collaboration
with SQI have created a surface that repels every other element of
human blood except critical cytokine biomarkers like Interleukin-6
(IL-6), enabling timely and clear detection of critical "cytokine
storm" progress of COVID-19 in individual patients. The same
bio-sensing technology can also be used to measure disease severity
in patients with influenza or other acute respiratory distress
conditions, as well as other infectious and non-infectious
diseases, including some cancers.
Dr. Tohid Didar, Professor of
Mechanical Engineering at McMaster
stated, "There are so many possibilities for these smart surfaces.
We can create them to repel everything, or we can design them to
interact in many beneficial ways. In this application, we have
designed it to detect only the one bio-marker IL-6, and this allows
us to separate it from everything else in a very complex
environment, enabling clear quantitative detection of its
presence."
The innovative technology is a proprietary surface coating that
repels every component of blood and other complex fluids, while
containing microscopic molecules that attract IL-6, making it
possible to detect and measure IL-6 with unprecedented accuracy and
sensitivity, at concentrations as low as 0.5 picograms per mL – or
one half of one trillionth of a gram per mL.
Dr. Eric Brouwer, Chief
Scientific Officer of SQI Diagnostics, said "Our collaboration with
McMaster University has led to an
innovative pathway to a potentially more efficient and effective
manufacturing design that strengthens SQI's ability to provide
extremely accurate diagnostics for testing in the COVID-19
pandemic, as well as other critical conditions."
SQI and the McMaster researchers are
working on a process to adapt the technology into SQI's existing
testing platforms, with the goal of moving it into use as soon as
possible. A paper introducing the technology has been published the
weekly, peer-reviewed scientific journal covering nanotechnology
called Small.
About SQI Diagnostics
SQI Diagnostics, Inc. is a precision medicine company that
discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative
rapid diagnostic testing for healthcare providers, patients and
consumers worldwide. The Company's proprietary advanced diagnostics
target organ transplant, autoimmune disease and serological
testing, which include a developmental COVID-19 Patient Triage Test
(RALI-Dx™) and a direct-to-consumer COVID-19 Antibody
Test Kit. SQI's rapid diagnostic tests are sold to healthcare
professionals so that patients can get accurate results and
fast effective treatment, and direct-to-consumers so that
individuals can take action to improve their health outcomes from
the comfort of their home.
Under organ transplant, SQI is pioneering the development of an
advanced diagnostic test that increases the chance of successful
lung transplant by assessing the health of the donor organ prior to
transplant surgery. The Company's TORdx™
Lung Test can detect inflammation at the molecular level enabling
surgeons to make a "go" or "no-go" decision on initiating
transplantation; there is currently no other such test. SQI has
partnered with University Health Network (UHN) Hospitals, one of
the largest health and medical research organization in
North America, for the
TORdx™ Lung Test clinical development program.
SQI is working with agencies in both the U.S. and Canada to submit the TORdx™
Lung Test for regulatory approval. Additional diagnostic tests
designed to increase the chance of successful organ transplant for
the kidney and liver are planned for clinical development
post-regulatory approval of the TORdx™ Lung
Test.
Under autoimmune disease testing, SQI has a direct-to-consumer
Celiac Disease and a Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Test that enable
people to screen for the diseases from the comfort of their home.
The direct-to-consumer RA Test can help identify and confirm RA
symptoms for early care. The direct-to-consumer Celiac Test is the
only test that confirms the disease and that can also validate the
effectiveness of dietary and lifestyle changes to confirm the
autoimmune response is improving.
Under serological testing, SQI is fast-tracking the development
of a direct-to-consumer COVID-19 At-home Antibody Test Kit to
detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the blood. The
Covid-19 Antibody Test Kit will determine if someone has been
exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the degree of exposure and
possible immunity to it. SQI's COVID-19 Antibody Home Test Kit will
be highly accurate >99%. The Company intends to apply for FDA
Emergency Use Authorization ("EUA") for its COVID-19 Antibody Test
Kit. If EUA is obtained, this test could be the first or one of the
first antibody tests shipped direct to the consumer home or
business so individuals won't have to travel to a clinic or
hospital to be tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody.
SQI is also fast-tracking the development of a COVID-19 Triage
Test called the RALI-Dx™. The RALI-Dx™ test
is an Inflammatory Response Panel comprised of several biomarkers
indicative of the "cytokine storm" that is associated with acute
lung injury. The RALI-Dx™ delivers results in under an
hour, giving the clinician insight into whether a patient with
COVID-19, Flu or any upper respiratory condition, can be treated
and released for home care, should be admitted to a standard
hospital unit to be monitored, or is likely to develop severe
life-threatening symptoms and requires immediate intensive care
unit (ICU) admittance and advanced respiratory care measures. The
ability to effectively triage COVID-19 (or Flu) patients would be a
diagnostic industry first. The Company intends to apply for FDA EUA
for its COVID-19 Triage Test.
The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its
product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19
(or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time.
For more information, please visit www.sqidiagnostics.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains certain words and statements,
which may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements reflect the
current views of the Company with respect to future events and are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties detailed in the
Company's ongoing filings with the securities regulatory
authorities, available to the public at www.sedar.com. Such
statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control, that
may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the
company's current expectations. Management's expectations and,
therefore, any forward-looking statements in this press release
could be affected by risks and uncertainties relating to a number
of factors, including the following: the content and timing of
decisions made by the FDA, the timing and costs involved in
establishing a commercial organization and the impact the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic may have on the company's business, including its
expected development, manufacturing, regulatory and
commercialization timelines Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements either as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable
securities laws
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE SQI Diagnostics Inc.