.jpg)
OpGen, Inc., a renowned precision medicine company, and its German subsidiary, Curetis GmbH, have successfully achieved all the remaining pivotal milestones in their initial research and development (R&D) partnership with FIND. This achievement has triggered a milestone payment of approximately $0.3 million.
OpGen and Curetis: A Synopsis
OpGen, Inc. is a precision medicine company that utilizes molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics to combat infectious diseases. They have created a portfolio of solutions that aid clinicians in making more informed and swift decisions about life-threatening infections.
Their subsidiary Curetis GmbH, based in Germany, has been instrumental in the development and initial lab testing of the sample-to-result Unyvero A30 panel with 33 targets, which includes fully integrated sample preparation. The successful completion of these milestones is a testament to their dedication and expertise.
The Milestone Achievement
In the first quarter of 2023, Curetis GmbH submitted a comprehensive milestone report to FIND. This confirmed that all requirements had been satisfactorily met. The successful completion of these key milestones led to a milestone payment of approximately $0.3 million.
Expansion of the Collaboration
The original collaboration included plans for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) strain analysis. This has now been expanded to include isolates from other sub-Saharan African countries. The collaboration has so far successfully tackled the development and initial wet-lab testing of a sample-in to result-out Unyvero A30 panel with 33 targets.
Adaptation for LMICs
Several adaptations were made to the Unyvero A30 instrument to optimize it for use in the challenging environments of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Instrument prototypes have been designed, built, and tested for operation in high-dust, extended temperature range, and power-out scenarios.
The Future of the Collaboration
The successful completion of the first phase of the collaboration places OpGen and Curetis in a desirable position for the development of a robust solution optimized for use in LMICs. This will be the focus of the potential next phase of the collaboration under a new agreement with FIND.
Remarks from the Key Players
Andreas Boos, Chief Technology Officer at Curetis GmbH, expressed his excitement at the successful completion of the final milestones of the first phase of their collaboration agreement. He also expressed his eagerness to work on the next set of deliverables under the expanded scope of their R&D partnership with FIND.
Johannes Bacher, Chief Operating Officer of OpGen, echoed these sentiments, expressing his belief that the successful first phase of their development collaboration places them in an ideal position for the development of a solution optimized for use in LMICs.
FIND's Evaluation
Dr. Cecilia Ferreyra, Director, FIND AMR Programme, noted that the adapted prototype test meets the quality and accuracy requirements for use in low- and middle-income countries. She expressed her anticipation for a continued collaboration to expand testing for blood stream infections in LMIC hospitals.
OpGen's Current Product Portfolio
OpGen's current product portfolio includes the Unyvero, Acuitas AMR Gene Panel, and the ARES Technology Platform. These include ARESdb, NGS technology, and AI-powered bioinformatics solutions for antibiotic response prediction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, OpGen and Curetis have successfully met all the remaining key milestones under their initial R&D collaboration agreement with FIND. The collaboration has so far successfully tackled the development and initial wet-lab testing of a sample-in to result-out Unyvero A30 panel with 33 targets. The future looks promising, with the potential for further collaboration and development of solutions optimized for use in LMICs.
The successful completion of these milestones is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and innovative approach of both OpGen and Curetis GmbH.
Comentários