Drug developer in Wetherby sees major virus testing breakthrough

The Wetherby-based provided Affimer reagents in May that are specific to the SARS-COV-2 spike protein to Cytiva.

Cytiva has now developed the first lateral flow test strips using these reagents and generated initial performance data using coronavirus spike protein.

The data shows that the test strips detect the spike protein in model samples at concentrations within the clinical range found in saliva of patients with Covid-19.

Dr. Alastair Smith, CEO of Avacta, said: "I am delighted with the progress made by our partners at Cytiva and very encouraged by the positive data from the first test devices."

Work will now continue to refine the test strip design, optimise its performance and get the best detection limit possible in order to generate the highest sensitivity in the final rapid test product.

Dr Smith said: "We now need to optimise the test performance to achieve the best possible limit of detection as this will ultimately play a significant factor in determining the clinical sensitivity of the test."

Following the optimisation of the lateral flow test by Cytiva the design will then be transferred to manufacturing partners in the UK that are currently being put in place by Avacta.

The firm is working with these manufacturers to compress the normal manufacturing, clinical validation and regulatory timelines in order to bring a product to market as quickly as possible.

"This is a really positive step and we aim to have completed the optimisation very soon so that we can begin the transfer to manufacturers," Dr Smith said. "I will be updating the market on progress in due course."

Klaus Hochleitner, global lead, technology product specialist at Cytiva, said: "I am pleased that the test development has progressed from a working initial design to now focussing on optimising the test as much as possible.

"The Affimer reagents have worked well in lateral flow test strips and we are very encouraged by the initial data."