Epistem recruits Indian Genedrive partner
EPISTEM has announced that it has signed a sales and marketing agreement with Indian biotechnology firm Xceleris Labs to market its rapid molecular test for tuberculosis (TB).
The firm has been carrying out field trials of the rapid TB test using its Genedrive teachnology, and this morning said that once clinical trials are complete, it will prepare regulatory submissions for its molecular TB test.
Epistem has said that Genedrive provides a major advance in molecular diagnostic testing, allowing test results to be delivered within 30 minutes even in remote areas.
The diagostic tests can be provided for a range of infectious diseases including TB, Dengue Fever, HIV and a wide range of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s).
India has the largest number of TB sufferers in the world. According to the WHO, every year 2 million new patients in India develop TB, with the highest incidence of fatalities occurring in remote rural areas.
Xcelris will be the channel partner for distribution of the Genedrive technology across India and the Indian sub-continent. Following regulatory approval, Genedrive will be positioned to be included as part of the Indian Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP).
