Hologic, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLX) announces the addition of the Aptima® SARS-CoV-2 assay to its Global Access Initiative (GAI), a program designed to expand access to critical diagnostic testing in resource-limited countries.
As a global leader in diagnostics, Hologic launched the GAI at the 2018 International AIDS Conference with a breakthrough all-inclusive pricing structure with no upfront cost or capital expenditure. Qualified products included molecular assays for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) and human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as the ThinPrep® Pap test for cervical cancer screening.
“Hologic remains committed to building diagnostic capacity and equitable health systems through affordable and accessible technical innovation,” said Joao Malagueira, Hologic’s vice president, EMEA Commercial. “We have a responsibility to bridge the diagnostic gap to sustainably control current and future disease outbreaks globally, and the expansion of the GAI to include our Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assay empowers countries to respond to the pandemic and control new waves of COVID-19.”
Throughout the pandemic, existing partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) assisted countries to quickly obtain SARS-CoV-2 tests at market pricing under existing procurement mechanisms. The Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assay is also available through the WHO Diagnostics Consortium, which secured critical volumes for countries with limited market access. To date, Hologic has delivered more than 700,000 tests for COVID-19 to resource-limited countries throughout the pandemic, in addition to routine supply of essential diagnostic tests for other viral infections to ensure continuity of care. Addition of the Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assay to the all-inclusive pricing structure of the GAI will enable further accessibility.
Source: Company Press Release