Ekf Diagnostics Share Discussion Threads

[wan] 17/9/2020 07:55

I would also add that Julian's (EKF's CEO) response to my question regarding the use of saliva as a sample was very encouraging. Saliva testing would certainly be one important step in alleviating capacity constraints and testing issues, and not just in the UK.

[wan] 17/9/2020 07:49

Given the complete mess that UK testing currently finds itself in (I will exclude further comment on that!), it's worth repeating another one of my previous posts, and worth repeating in terms of how 'inactivation ingredients' can play a very important part of the test itself. The following UK saliva test is right under the nose of the UK Government, as is PrimeStore, which will enable the samples in long queues/turnaround times, to still be viable (and safe)-

Everywhere I look COVID-19 testing capacity is being significantly ramped-up. Plus various rapid tests are in development, or being launched. The global testing capacity and supply chain requirement,from laboratory tests, to nearer the test setting/POC and saliva testing, is truly massive and on an unprecedented scale!

I firmly believe that PrimeStore MTM will have good exposure to the current and emerging testing requirements, and across a spectrum of tests, not just today's lab tests that governments have, and still are, rapidly scaling.

An example of how PrimeStore is likely to feature in a wider spectrum of testing, and no guarantee that this is PrimeStore related, is a newly launched saliva test from Halo that is 'beyond' current government efforts (not unsurprising some might say!) -

Halo overcomes the need for nasal swabs or blood tests with cutting-edge saliva testing technology. This makes our sample collection safer, non-invasive and more sensitive.

Our collection tubes contain a liquid which rapidly deactivates viral proteins while preventing genetic material from degrading, making it non-infectious and stable for days -

[wan] 16/9/2020 09:00

No problem James, I think that perhaps a number of readers missed those insightful remarks from Longhorn. So thanks for highlighting it again.

Hence, my questions regarding the potential for PrimeStore ingredients 'enabling' certain types of rapid test during the EKF Presentation, and which was interpreted differently by Julian.

The main thrust being that Longhorn suggests that the their ingredients can enable certain rapid tests, time will tell whether that is Roche or another, or perhaps even several. So, to learn that EKF has no real constraints on the amount of ingredients they are able to produce for Longhorn, was another insightful piece of information.

And in Julian's defence (a)- rapid testing could be interpreted as a lateral flow test, because they are rapid! (b) He could not have directly answered it given the market sensitivity of such information (whereas Longhorn are not under the same restrictions).

[james188] 16/9/2020 08:27

Thanks for repeating your post 479, wan; I am sorry that is missed the original post. As another poster observed, there is now a lot of quality information on this board.

[wan] 16/9/2020 07:53

To repeat my post 479 -

Previously I have provided food for thought, along with the scientific evidence and links, providing good evidence that PrimeStore MTM could enhance, possibly enable, certain tests including RT-LAMP saliva tests and the importance of differentiating between flu and Covid-19. And that going forwards, given the attributes of PrimeStore MTM, I was also interested to see if PrimeStore MTM might be paired with, or have preference with certain diagnostic developers/tests.

Implying - in the future - that use of PrimeStore MTM for COVID-19 testing could significantly increase via use across a wider spectrum of the global testing.

The following interview with Longhorns President provides some important insights, including confirmation that Longhorn are working with government agencies and some very large companies to scale production and distribution, including that they are working with one of the largest diagnostic companies in the world to add PrimeStore MTM to their point of care test that differentiates between COVID-19 and flu -

[wan] 16/9/2020 07:36

To be clear, I have no idea at this stage if the Roche point of care device involves PrimeStore 'ingredients' that are manufactured by EKF.

Importantly, the device still requires a sample to be taken, and it's the first time I have noticed the reference to the involvement of inactivated products as being part of the description/test (bear in mind I can't read every EUA and I am not an expert/scientist). And in any regard, the EUA is very good news for testing generally

[wan] 16/9/2020 06:58

Coincidentally I was reading the details for a new test for the simultaneous rapid in vitro qualitative detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and/or influenza B virus RNA, which is from the FDA for EUA that Roche received yesterday.

I note that it requires the following (which is different to their other authorised COVID/Flu test) -

Your product also requires the use of positive and negative controls which are not included with the kit but are available from you and are run as outlined in the authorized labeling.

The following control materials, or other authorized control materials (as may be requested under Condition N below), that are processed in the same way as the patient specimens and are required to be included with each batch of specimens tested with your product. All controls listed below must generate expected results in order for a test to be considered valid, as outlined in the
Instructions for Use:

• Negative Control – universal transport media; needed to ensure that each lot of
reagents and the cobas Liat analyzer have not become contaminated with template
nucleic acid.
• Positive Control – lyophilized inactivated influenza A and B viruses and a DNA
plasmid encoding the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp sequence; needed to ensure that all components and processes of each lot of reagents are functioning properly, including sample preparation, reverse transcription and nucleic acid amplification.

• Internal Process Control (IC) – inactivated MS2 bacteriophage containing an RNA
template. The IC is mixed with sample during the first step of the automated process
and is subsequently lysed, reverse transcribed, amplified and detected along with
SARS CoV-2, influenza A and influenza B targets when present.



We put a lab in a tube...

The cobas® Liat® System is a fast, easy-to-use, compact PCR system designed for on-demand testing in point-of-care settings such as physician clinics, pharmacies, and hospital and satellite laboratories. The system includes the cobas® Liat® Analyzer–a small, benchtop analyzer safeguarded by an extensive array of instrument controls, plus a growing portfolio of assays, including cobas® Influenza A/B, cobas® Influenza A/B and RSV, cobas® Strep A and cobas® Cdiff. Assays for other infectious diseases are in development.

[hastings] 16/9/2020 06:50

James, if you change the h to a capital H at the start it should highlight it.

[james188] 16/9/2020 06:45

Here is the link.

[wan] 16/9/2020 06:43

James...See my post 479, nonetheless, it is worth repeating!

[james188] 16/9/2020 06:36

If you are on Twitter, you can follow PrimeStoreMTM. There is a tweet dated 4th August that provides a link to an interview that Jeff Fischer of Longhorn did with a local US radio station, explaining what Longhorn is doing and how it is developing its product range through various partnership arrangements. Towards the end, Jeff mentions that Longhorn is working with “one of the world’s leading diagnostic companies” to provide a test ready for this Autumn which will tell you whether an infection is actually COVID-19, flu or just a very bad cold. I guess that he is referring to EKF. As we heard in the Q&A session following the interims presentation, EKF expect the relationship with Longhorn to develop further.

The interviewer’s style may grate a bit with some people, but it worth persevering to hear what Jeff Fischer has to say.

[buywell3] 15/9/2020 10:45

buywell is now of the opinion

That at this point in the pandemic

Testing for Covid-19 is in fact a waste of time and resources

why ?

Because next year there will be 500M cases and growing

Yes

We know it has arrived and is here --- probably to stay --- like the other 4

[malcolmmm] 15/9/2020 09:04

I can sell for 55.50p so looking like a recovery is on the way

[wan] 15/9/2020 08:43

Btw, my trade not shown.

[malcolmmm] 15/9/2020 08:42

Also have added on the pullback

[wan] 15/9/2020 08:41

Briefly....Given some of the important confirmations and details revealed during the presentation, plus the attractions on offer in terms of dividend, and in that I include Trellus Health (more on this later), along with my own ongoing research. Not to mention the very capable and knowledgeable management, the favourable probability regarding further upgrades, and the favourable longer term trends and prospects, I have added further to my investment holding in EKF this morning.

[capitalist] 15/9/2020 08:35

Interesting report, thank you Hastings.

[9degrees] 14/9/2020 19:37

the meeting should create investor interest . very well presented Thanks Julian and co

[masurenguy] 14/9/2020 19:00

Very interesting summary - cheers Martin.

[james188] 14/9/2020 18:34

First, I want to add my thanks to hastings for his first rate report earlier today.

I also attended the InvestorMeetCompany this afternoon and asked questions about Trellus Health, EKF's cash position, Longhorn and Elkhart future investment. I really like this platform, absent the opportunity to engage face to face. I was impressed by the level of engagement demonstrated by the management team on the call. There were very few questions that they ducked.

The future opportunities with Longhorn post COVID-19 and with Mount Sinai were key takeaways for me. I can see a bigger player coming in and snapping up EKF, but I hope that that is some years off.

[wan] 14/9/2020 18:19

I thought the meeting was very informative, with excellent in-depth coverage and explanations from both the CEO and CFO.

The only small disappointment I had was Julian's response to my question as to whether PrimeStore could potentially enable certain types of rapid diagnostics (The President of Longhorn Vaccines recent comments implied that this could well be the case regarding work on a point of care test, and a recent scientific review of an RT-LAMP test also implied the same).

By rapid I meant quicker than current PCR methods, but Julian interpreted "rapid" as being a lateral flow type test that uses blood as the sample, to which I already appreciated the answer would have been no to.

The saliva sample question was mine too though, and Julian's answer gives me hope that a rapid test (quicker than current PCR) that specifically utilises PrimeStore (MTM or ATM) might not be too far off.

Unfortunately my follow-up question regarding current and emerging LAMP test compatibility, appeared to run out of time for answering.

My other important question was regarding Longhorn contracts, which was answered comprehensively, and I was very pleased to have it confirmed that EKF are indeed the only manufacturer and supplier of the most important, patented and closely guarded ingredients.

[cheshire man] 14/9/2020 16:09

Thank you for that link hastings :-)

[marvelman] 14/9/2020 15:58

Quality Hastings...thank you from me also.

[hastings] 14/9/2020 15:33

Cheers Wan, appreciated.

[wan] 14/9/2020 15:27

Well done Hastings, excellent coverage!