Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a leader in point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, has been awarded a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expedite the feasibility testing and development of a DPP® Malaria POC rapid diagnostic to accurately identify individuals infected with Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
Chembio's DPP® technology has been selected for this grant due to its exceptional sensitivity and potential to aid the foundation in its goal of eradicating malaria. To achieve this goal, diagnostics must be capable of detecting the malaria parasite in infected, but asymptomatic people. Current POC rapid diagnostics tests lack sufficient sensitivity to identify all individuals with transmissible infections.
Javan Esfandiari, Chembio's Chief Science & Technology Officer and the principal investigator of this project, commented, "We are honored that our patented DPP® technology will be one of those selected by the Gates Foundation to be tested for such an important endeavor. We believe our DPP® technology provides the platform to develop a more sensitive POC malaria test capable of identifying individuals with low parasite densities who contribute to transmission."
John Sperzel, Chembio's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Through this grant, Chembio is reaffirming our role as a leader in the early and rapid diagnosis of infectious disease, and our commitment to improving public health worldwide. The grant from the foundation comes just weeks after Chembio entered into a research collaboration agreement with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), to develop and validate DPP® Ebola and DPP® Febrile Illness Assays, which include Ebola and malaria. We have made quick progress with the CDC program and we are already on track to provide the CDC with DPP® Ebola and DPP® Febrile Illness Assays during the first quarter of 2015 for initial field testing in West Africa. It is our hope that we can rapidly establish feasibility and be selected to proceed with product development for the Gates Foundation, as well."
Chembio's DPP® technology has been selected for this grant due to its exceptional sensitivity and potential to aid the foundation in its goal of eradicating malaria. To achieve this goal, diagnostics must be capable of detecting the malaria parasite in infected, but asymptomatic people. Current POC rapid diagnostics tests lack sufficient sensitivity to identify all individuals with transmissible infections.
Javan Esfandiari, Chembio's Chief Science & Technology Officer and the principal investigator of this project, commented, "We are honored that our patented DPP® technology will be one of those selected by the Gates Foundation to be tested for such an important endeavor. We believe our DPP® technology provides the platform to develop a more sensitive POC malaria test capable of identifying individuals with low parasite densities who contribute to transmission."
John Sperzel, Chembio's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Through this grant, Chembio is reaffirming our role as a leader in the early and rapid diagnosis of infectious disease, and our commitment to improving public health worldwide. The grant from the foundation comes just weeks after Chembio entered into a research collaboration agreement with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), to develop and validate DPP® Ebola and DPP® Febrile Illness Assays, which include Ebola and malaria. We have made quick progress with the CDC program and we are already on track to provide the CDC with DPP® Ebola and DPP® Febrile Illness Assays during the first quarter of 2015 for initial field testing in West Africa. It is our hope that we can rapidly establish feasibility and be selected to proceed with product development for the Gates Foundation, as well."