Six companies tackling AMR embark on Innovation Programme
Six developers of solutions to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have been selected to take part in Healthcare Innovation Consortium’s AMR Innovation Programme, starting today. Each company was chosen for their technology’s potential impact on AMR, the validation they have achieved in a clinical environment, and the benefit they would receive from a programme of support to commercialise and scale.
The new programme, delivered in collaboration with Mecomed, Barts Life Sciences, BLK Partners, Piper Health and Hill Dickinson, will provide the participants with clinical, legal, commercial, and market insights and support.
The goal is to fast-track cutting-edge technologies into the market, to promote the optimal use of antibiotics in clinical practice, enhance infection prevention and control, and aid in the identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The participants include:
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- iFast Diagnostics Ltd: A spinout from the University of Southampton, their system enables hospital labs to conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing more quickly with less labour and higher throughput than currently available, without disturbing their workflow.
- Novus Diagnostics: A Dublin-based clinical developer of a rapid bedside test for bloodstream infections, commonly associated with Sepsis. Their clinical diagnostics technology test, Septec, can diagnose if an infection is present, and classify the causative pathogen within 15 minutes. This enables immediate initiation of targeted treatment, reduces unnecessary antibiotic usage, and improves outcomes.
- QIAGEN: The Netherlands-based leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. The QIAstat-Dx Plus AMR Panels Cartridges allow performance of fully automated molecular assays for the detection and identification of several pathogens and AMR genetic determinants at once and it only takes around one hour.
- Senzo Health: An in vitro diagnostics company addressing the large percentage of antibiotics prescribed for community acquired acute respiratory infections (CA-ARTI). Their Amplified Lateral Flow (ALF) at-home and point-of-care Respiratory Multiplex test and Bacterial/Viral Differentiation test aims to improve CA-ARTI and Viral vs. Bacterial diagnosis at the point of care, thereby reducing the misuse and over-prescription of antibiotics globally.
- Microplate Dx: A spinout from the University of Strathclyde, this agile diagnostics company has developed a rapid, cost-competitive, label-free, electrode-based, data-rich, antibiotic susceptibility test ‘Rplate’™. It has the potential to measure any patient sample type and provide a personalised summary output of which antibiotic to use with bacterial or fungal infections.
- Simed Global: A developer of instant diagnostic devices for early detection of population diseases, their CX device allows clinicians to test patients via a simple saliva swab. Utilising sensitive detection methods and AI, their platform system can detect LoD 55 viral particles in 200 µL of saliva = 275 viral particle per mL.
Suzie Ali-Hassan, Chief Partnerships Officer, Healthcare Innovation Consortium: said:“AMR is a multi-sector and multi-faceted problem that needs us to come together now, otherwise everyday operations will become too dangerous to perform, and minor illnesses could become life-threatening. These companies have been chosen because they each play a part in supporting the optimal use of antibiotics, or identification of the specific pathogen much more quickly. Our programme aims to facilitate the development of their technologies and accelerate them into the marketplace both in the UK and the GCC region.”
Dr David Wareham, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Consultant Microbiologist at Queen Mary University London and Barts Health, said:“This a unique opportunity enabling us to share and accelerate advances in diagnostic AMR technologies successfully implemented at Barts Health in recent years. Also, to facilitate precision-based antimicrobial prescribing strategies for effective treatment and prevention of multi-drug resistant infections.”
Nadia Aelbrecht, VP, Head of Franchise, Syndromic Testing, QIAGEN:“The WHO’s alarming forecast of 10 million annual deaths by 2050 due to drug-resistant-diseases underscores the urgency of action. QIAGEN is committed to be a pivotal force against AMR, delivering innovative diagnostic solutions that enable rapid and accurate identification of infections guiding effective treatment to avert this global health crisis.
Dr Stuart Hannah, CEO, Microplate Dx, said:“Microplate Dx are absolutely delighted to be a part of the AMR Programme where we will have the opportunity to meet likeminded individuals and the key groups necessary to enable the rapid acceleration of our AMR diagnostic into the market.”
The programme will run for two months and support the six participants with:
- In-depth insights into the NHS and Middle East markets
- Engagement with academic and clinical experts in the field
- Expert advice on regulation and compliance in both markets
- Facilitated connections on a national and international level
- Support to secure investment where applicable.
- For more information on each of the Cohort click here.