University of Sheffield team on track to deliver 'robust test' to control global spread of coronavirus

Braveheart Investment Group plc has provided an update concerning progress to develop a COVID-19 test that Paraytec Limited is working on in conjunction with the University of Sheffield.

The statement said: "Delivery of the 500 clinical samples from Sheffield Hospitals Trust were delayed due to unprecedented pressure on hospital services responding to COVID-19. However, Paraytec has reported to Braveheart that the pipeline of clinical samples is now fully operational and additional staff have been recruited to process samples for performance assessment.

"The Paraytec and University of Sheffield team will use these samples to set the test operational parameters so that it attains or exceeds the recommended guidelines for upper limits on false positive and negative tests set by the Medical Health Regulatory Authority. Results from this phase of clinical testing are now expected by the end of February."

The statement added: "To minimise the effects of this delay, Paraytec has brought forward scheduled work, using isolated lab-grown virus to optimise the operational sensitivity (sometimes called 'lower limit of detection') of our instrument for the detection of pre-symptomatic and early-stage symptomatic levels of virus. Paraytec's target is to detect less than 1000 virions per millilitre of sample, which would represent a market leading performance, if achieved.

"By re-arranging the workflows Paraytec does not believe that there will be any overall delay to the development programme.

"It is already clear that current vaccines are not 100% effective and the infection risk is being compounded by the emergence of new strains of the COVID-19 virus," the statement added. "Braveheart has been advised that the Paraytec and University of Sheffield team believes there is, and will continue to be, a significant and ongoing demand for rapid tests for the early detection of the virus, to protect communities and the world's economy.

"Braveheart and Paraytec remain committed to developing a test which achieves the performance parameters specified by the Medical Health Regulatory Authority and delivers a test result in five minutes. Detection tests show that Paraytec's aptamer based viral capture system completely traps target material in 300 seconds or less, confirming that its test platform is on target to deliver a test result within a five-minute timeframe, subject to successful completion of the clinical sampling tests.

Prof Carl Smythe, who leads the University of Sheffield team, commented, "We are very pleased with the rapid performance of our sample capture device. Together with the analytical sensitivity and speed of the optical system, we are on track to deliver a robust test that will support the level of infection control required globally."

Trevor Brown, CEO of Braveheart, commented "Though slightly delayed, the clinical sample pipeline is now fully operational and the development program remains intact. The agility and dedication of the team has resulted in workflows being re-arranged so that the unanticipated impact of the third lock-down has been eliminated within the original project timeframe."

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