Sensortec has entered into an exclusive global agreement with DxTech, assigning the rights of the IP for medical and veterinary diagnostics
The project sees DxTech, a subsidiary of XL TechGroup, developing the IP to a point of care (POC) platform, to provide blood based diagnostics for clinical chemistry and immunochemistry, as a viable alternative to centralised laboratories.
Universal Sensors, the Cambridge-based arm of Sensortec, has been contracted to transfer the selected diagnostic tests to the sensors and to help develop the multi-analyte micro-fluidic cartridge that forms an integral part of the POC diagnostics platform.
The technology will decentralise lab-based medical diagnostics as it allows for on-site, near real time results in tests undertaken by clinicians.
It is anticipated that the device with the first of many diagnostic panels or cartridges will enter product demonstrations in 2007 and full commercialisation in 2008.
The fully automated and portable diagnostic device will provide immediate feedback to the patient whether they are in the doctor's surgery, or being tested elsewhere.
It will have the capacity to analyse multiple blood samples simultaneously within minutes and at competitive costs.
The test results are equal or superior to those achievable in a central laboratory, and currently no other device can give such a range of blood tests with such accuracy and speed.
Test and quality control data is transmitted via a small electronic reader to a centralised data management system where patient results are stored and made available for merger into the patient electronic medical record or any one of many options selected by the clinician for managing patient information.
It will also include automatic billing to insurance companies in markets, or in individual cases, where private medical insurance is held.
Sensortec has contracted Universal Sensors as its R+D facility to develop and commercialise the IP for many market sectors.
This agreement now formalises the partnership between the companies incorporating Sensortec's IP, Universal Sensors's know-how and DxTech's strategic drive and commercial expertise with financial backing from its parent company XL TechGroup.
DxTech has been granted an exclusive worldwide licence for all medical and veterinary applications of the Sensortec technology, in return for which Sensortec holds a small minority equity stake in DxTech.
Sensortec's proprietary technology enables the transfer of a wide range of common format assays traditionally performed at clinical reference laboratories, all in a simplified form and at a competitive price.
The unique design of the Sensortec sensor chips means that low cost materials and methods can be used to produce the disposable cartridge incorporating the sensors and fluidics required to manipulate the blood sample and perform the tests, which has not been possible with alternative sensor technologies.
This novel biosensor technology has multiple applications and has already been evaluated for use in the environmental and food quality assurance sectors for detecting such contaminants as mycotoxins and drug residues.
Richard Wardle, managing director of Sensortec, said: "We have been developing our system for some time and we are delighted that DxTech has recognised the elegance and full potential of our technology and chosen to participate in this exciting venture.
"This partnership with DxTech to develop a POC system for the clinical and veterinary sectors is an ideal route to commercialisation for us and complements our other projects, reaching across many other sectors such as food quality assurance and environmental testing".
Steve Lufkin, chief executive officer of DxTech, said: "The biosensor platform is extremely simple in operation with a performance that is hard to fault.
"Many assay formats can be transferred or developed quickly and at the same time give high reproducibility.
"We chose the Sensortec platform ahead of many others due to its performance characteristics that deliver sensitivity with low concentration assays in complex matrixes.
"It should allow us to develop a multi-assay format POC device without the need for multiple technologies.
"Market research in the USA has provided strong validation of the DxTech business model and confirmed substantial market appetite for this technology".
