Globavir Biosciences, a biotechnology company that develops therapeutics for infectious diseases and oncology, and diagnostics for infectious diseases, has announced a partnership with Bio-Rad Laboratories, a global provider of life science research and clinical diagnostics products.
Under the terms of the agreement, Bio-Rad will license Globavir's PanGlob™ dengue detection technology for use in an assay that includes dengue virus detection. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The PanGlob assay, originally developed by Stanford University researchers, includes improved diagnostic sensitivity, efficacy across all four dengue serotypes, and enhanced specificity for dengue over related viruses. This advanced technology reduces the risk of incorrect results.
"Infectious disease outbreaks are a threat to human health with the potential of quickly reaching an epidemic level," said Globavir CEO Dr. Shalabh Gupta. "Correct diagnosis of these types of diseases is the crucial first step toward effective patient care and surveillance. Globavir is excited to lend our dengue technology toward the creation of this important assay."
"Bio-Rad is pleased to partner with Globavir for a dengue assay that provides improved sensitivity and specificity in detecting this virus," said Bio-Rad President Clinical Diagnostics Group John Hertia.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes flu-like illness that can develop into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. According to the World Health Organization, the global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades, with about half of the world's population now at risk.
Driven by increased travel of asymptomatic patients and the global spread of the disease-carrying mosquito, a recent estimate reports that dengue infection affects approximately 390 million patients worldwide, with nearly 100 million of these cases manifesting with consequences ranging from the painful and debilitating dengue fever to severe dengue.
Dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries in the WHO regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. Although there is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue, early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below one percent.