Avacta upbeat on evaluation of Covid-19 test strips

Avacta Group announced on Wednesday that the first ‘Affimer’-based rapid test strips to detect SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) spike protein had been developed and evaluated by its partners at Cytiva - formerly GE Healthcare Life Sciences - and reportedly showed positive initial performance data.

The AIM-traded firm provided Affimer reagents specific to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to Cytiva in mid-May, with Cytiva developing the first lateral flow test strips using those reagents and generating initial performance data using coronavirus spike protein in the period since then.

Avacta said the data showed that the test strips detected the spike protein in model samples at concentrations within the clinical range found in saliva of patients with Covid-19.

Work was continuing 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.

Following the optimisation of the lateral flow test by Cytiva, Avacta said the design would then be transferred to manufacturing partners in the UK that were it was currently putting in place.

The company said it was working with those manufacturers to compress the normal manufacturing, clinical validation and regulatory timelines, in order to bring a product to market as quickly as possible.

“I am delighted with the progress made by our partners at Cytiva and very encouraged by the positive data from the first test devices,” said chief executive officer Dr Alastair Smith.

“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.

“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.”

At 0834 BST, shares in Avacta Group were up 3.38% at 145.77p.