Chembio Diagnostics has entered into an agreement to develop a POC diagnostic test for dengue fever virus.
The company also announced that it has entered into an agreement with an international diagnostics company to develop a POC diagnostic test for a type of cancer.
Both development projects will incorporate Chembio’s patented DPP technology. Financial details and the names of the collaborators are not being disclosed.
Javan Esfandiari, Chembio’s Chief Science & Technology Officer and the inventor of the DPP® technology, commented, "We are pleased to enter into the agreement to develop a DPP® Dengue Fever Assay, which would be able to detect IgG/IGM and NS1 antigens. Based on our 2013 experience developing a DPP® Febrile Illness Assay in partnership with a U.S. government agency, we are confident in our ability to develop a stand-alone DPP® Dengue Fever Assay.
"We are also pleased to work with a leading diagnostics company to develop a state-of-the-art test for the early detection and monitoring of a specific type of cancer. The cancer project represents the first application of the DPP® technology outside of the infectious disease field and it is our hope that bringing the DPP® technology to the oncology market will aid in improving outcomes for patients battling cancer."
The DPP® point-of-care technology was developed at Chembio, granted initial patent protection in 2007, and has been successfully commercialized as two infectious disease products: DPP® HIV 1/2 Assay and DPP® HIV-Syphilis Combination Assay.
The DPP® technology offers a significant advantage over traditional lateral flow technology, as it provides increased sensitivity and the ability to offer multiple test results with a single patient sample.
John Sperzel, Chembio’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The World Health Organization estimates there are 3 billion people living in dengue endemic countries, and the CDC estimates there are 400 million dengue virus infections annually, making dengue virus a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics and subtropics. We believe a stand-alone DPP® Dengue Fever Assay and a dengue fever test as part of a DPP® Febrile Illness Assay, will be useful tools in combating this deadly disease. We also believe the DPP® technology has application in other clinical areas, and we are thrilled that an industry collaborator has recognized the potential value of DPP® within the oncology market."