Ekf Diagnostics Share Discussion Threads

[wan] 17/10/2020 12:14

Epicsurf...That particular story was reported on and around 26th August 2020, plus the Longhorn contract with the DHS was highlighted on here back in June. So to be clear, it's not a new contract.

[epicsurf] 17/10/2020 12:02

hxxps://homelandprepnews.com/stories/54563-maryland-touts-covid-19-rd-efforts-among-nearly-40-local-companies-universities/?amp
Not sure of the exact date this was publish but was on Twitter 03/9

Maryland touts COVID-19 R&D efforts among nearly 40 local companies, universities

 

Thanks to the efforts of nearly 40 companies and universities in the state of Maryland, millions of dollars have been dedicated to the research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and tests for COVID-19, Gov. Larry Hogan announced this week.

Those efforts include millions in funding dedicated by the University System of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University and more than $3 billion acquired for vaccine development by state-based life sciences companies Novavax, Emergent BioSolutions, Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics, and Altimmune. Even better, they have begun to show results on their investments, such as the recently started phase 3 trials of a COVID-19 vaccine by the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“On the day of our first coronavirus cases, I said that Maryland was home to some of the top health research facilities in the world, and vowed that we would be a part of developing treatments and perhaps even a vaccine for this deadly virus,” Hogan said. “I want to commend our world-class life sciences community, our universities, and federal research labs for working together to fight this unprecedented global pandemic. Our state will continue to lead on the road to recovery.”

Of the funds secured by companies, Novavax was awarded $1.6 billion by Operation Warp Speed to aid late-stage clinical development and large-scale manufacturing efforts that would put it on track to deliver 100 million vaccine doses this year, along with another $388 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and $60 million from the U.S. Department of Defense. Emergent signed a series of contracts with other companies and Operation Warp Speed to support its development and manufacturing efforts with $1.5 billion in funding.

Longhorn took in $225 million from a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to transport clinical samples to testing labs

[wan] 17/10/2020 11:31

A test being developed by Cytiva (formerly GE Healthcare) and Avacta (and partnered with BBI) is just one of the UK versions being referred to.

What I have noted with the Cytiva/Avacta test (amongst other things) is that it also involves a saliva collection tube and a transfer pipette, which implies to me it is similar to others (e.g. the Siemens example in post 654) where the sample is inserted into a tube with special liquid before being transferred to the cassette/cartridge. In any regard, it would appear from what we know thus far, that PrimeStore ATM will improve and optimise a wide range of antigen tests, but with the tantalising comment from Longhorn that it could be an important ingredient/enabler in a point-of care test from large global diagnostic company.

As an aside, I had previously noted Cytiva's use of PrimeStore MTM in their Sera-Xtracta Virus/Pathogen Kit which has been optimised for the isolation of nucleic acid from swab samples collected into PrimeStore MTM.

[eeza] 17/10/2020 10:54

What we need to know is how many are using Primestore ATM.

[mirandaj] 17/10/2020 10:47

Another - this from Warrington Guardian
14th October

"Warrington firm launches kit which detects coronavirus in 15 minutes
AlphaBiolabs, based in Westbrook, has launched a coronavirus testing kit for UK businesses which gives results within 15 minutes, by identifying the presence of the Covid-19 antigen from a nose and throat sample.
The test can detect Covid-19 after the onset of symptoms or from 14 days after initial exposure to the virus.
The new test, which works in similar fashion to a pregnancy test, detects specific proteins, known as antigens, which are situated on the cell membranes of the virus."

The test costs about £40....



How many others can there be?

[wan] 17/10/2020 10:26

As mass antigen testing gets rolled across the globe, with further high-volume manufacturing launches confirmed and slated in over the next few months, they are being described as a game-changer in terms of controlling Coronavirus and limiting the need for lockdowns and restrictions etc.

Boris Johnson confirms UK rapid testing technology and 'domestic' manufacturing -

16th October 2020 (a milestone birthday for me) -

Coronavirus testing: 15-minute result tests to be trialled more widely

The prime minister has said new and faster testing will be trialled across England as scientists continue to research mass testing.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said early research suggested the tests were "highly effective" with some delivering results in 15 minutes.

Listen -

[epicsurf] 16/10/2020 16:04

hxxps://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-tester-sourcebio-to-unveil-163130m-london-float-12103099?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter

A diagnostics company which has been conducting thousands of daily COVID-19 tests will this week unveil plans to return to the London stock market through a £130m flotation.

Sky News has learnt that SourceBio International, which is based in Nottingham, intends to raise between £30m and £35m through a listing that is expected to be announced on Thursday.



Its initial contract with the Department of Health and Social Care has been renewed in anticipation of continued high demand for testing throughout 2021.
Which I assume means a high demand for primestore MTM kits

[wan] 16/10/2020 07:06

The market is (unfortunately) going to get larger, a whole lot larger!

15th October 2020
Roche says broader tests needed for second Covid wave

‘If you look at the curves going up everywhere, relying on PCR alone will not work’

Pharmaceutical group Roche has said that authorities will have to use less accurate antigen testing as well as the gold standard polymerase chain reaction test to identify potential cases of Covid-19 if they are to start to cope with the second wave of infections.

“If you look at the curves going up everywhere, relying on PCR alone will not work,” Thomas Schinecker, head of diagnostics at the Swiss company, told the Financial Times.

PCR testing assesses whether the genetic material of a virus is present, while antigen tests look for a protein that is present on the outside wall of a virus.

PCR tests are more accurate but Mr Schinecker said antigen tests could help detect positive cases when people are at their most infectious and their likelihood of spreading the virus at its highest.

“Only a very small percentage [of those infected] is responsible for 60 to 70 per cent of infections,” he said. “What is clear, and not only for this virus, is that if you have more virus you’re more likely to be more infectious.”

The Roche antigen test currently on the market uses material collected from throat and nose swabs, though executives said that in the coming months they hoped to be able to launch a version that works using saliva.

Mr Schinecker said the company could supply about 50m such tests in November and December, increasing to 80m after that. 

Its current PCR manufacturing capacity is about 20m tests a month. 

Full story -

Note that the indicated manufacturing volumes for antigen testing are much larger than that for current PCR tests (which will no doubt increase as well).

[epicsurf] 15/10/2020 18:41

·https://mobile.twitter.com/SourceBio/status/1316769052396838917

1h

BBC East Midlands has been on site filming today!

See our newly extended COVID-19 Testing laboratory and find out how we are increasing our test capacity to over 10,000 samples per day, from our Chief Operating Officer, Russell Wheatcroft. Tune in tomorrow from 6.30am

[wan] 15/10/2020 08:16

In a previous post I said, "Exactly how a sample needs to be introduced to certain point of care devices, such as lateral flow/ELISA devices, can apparently be crucial. This aspect has been piquing my interest since the revelation that the new PrimeStore ATM product could potentially revolutionise antigen testing (by directing some of my efforts to understand what its importance could be in point of care/low cost settings)."

Yesterday Siemens Healthineers UK, received CE marking for their new Clinitest Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test and confirmed the test is to be launched in United Kingdom and other CE mark countries, with plans to submit to FDA for Emergency Use Authorisation in the USA.

What stood out for me was the description of how the sample is prepared and added to the cassette -

The CLINITEST Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test is easy to administer for healthcare professionals and delivers results quickly using the nasopharyngeal swab method. Once a sample is collected, the swab is inserted into a tube with special liquid to extract the target molecule. This liquid is then dispensed onto a test cassette and, in 15 minutes, a positive or negative result is clearly indicated.


Obviously we have no idea, at this stage, if the "special liquid" used by Siemens is PrimeStore ATM, but it brings me back to the main thrust and why I have become interested in exactly how a sample needs to be introduced to certain point of care devices, such as lateral flow/ELISA devices.

From what I can tell, Siemens Healthineers are not the only ones developing rapid antigen testing that will require samples to be treated in a certain way for improved/optimised antigen testing.

Which brings me back to why I have become particularly interested in exactly how a sample needs to be introduced to certain point of care devices, such as lateral flow/ELISA devices, which can apparently be crucial. Which is perhaps where PrimeStore ATM will play its part in revolutionising antigen testing (and not just for COVID-19).

As a reminder -
“I invented the new product about three years ago to improve and enhance rapid antigen tests for respiratory pathogens…this is a decontaminating blend that destroys lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions and yet it preserves protein-protein interactions,” stated Daum. “I wanted ATM to improve antigen testing but we also wanted it to be used as a molecular media.

[wan] 14/10/2020 13:46

EKF just tweeted the following -

Can samples stored in PrimeStore MTM be used for multiple tests or do multiple swabs need to be taken?
Multiple tests can be processed from one sample swab. This makes PrimeStore MTM ideal for the flu season as samples stored using it can be tested for both COVID-19 and influenza from a single sample swab. PrimeStore MTM has been designed for short term and long-term sample storage meaning it is possible to bio-bank samples in the collection tube for future analysis.


The new FDA guidance appears to have created an even more compelling rationale for using PrimeStore MTM, not to mention adding further weight to EKF's marketing.

[wan] 14/10/2020 10:32

The following takes a bit of thinking about. First of all readers will no doubt have read EKF's information regarding dual COVID-19 and influenza sampling, which is worth keeping in mind in what follows further below -


Yesterday the FDA issued new guidance for molecular diagnostic tests for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), allowing developers to modify already-cleared tests in certain ways to make flu and RSV tests more widely available while also preserving reagents for SARS-CoV-2 testing -


In short, as we enter the flu season and in order to cope with an anticipated surge in demand and the recognised need to differentiate between flu and COVID-19, the FDA is not requiring authorisation for certain transport media used to obtain samples for flu testing.

Whilst on the one hand that means there is likely to be more transport media options on the market, the market has just got a lot bigger. But my interpretation is that it also means that you then need to obtain two patient samples and use two 'different' types of transport media (one for COVID-19 samples and another one for flu that does not affect COVID-19 transport media supplies).

As I mentioned at the beginning, it's worth bearing in mind a key differentiating factor, when using PrimeStore MTM you only need to collect one sample and use only one transport media to test for both flu and COVID-19. PrimeStore MTM is safer, and saves a lot of time, effort and money. Not too mention less discomfort for the patient with only one invasive nasopharyngeal swab required!

Thus, I am expecting very robust, if not increasing demand for PrimeStore MTM.

[wan] 14/10/2020 07:34

Btgman...Thanks, Yes I should have also mentioned that EKF will accordingly gain a holding in Verici

[btgman] 14/10/2020 07:20

Quick question if I may Wan. EKF still hold a Rernalytix will they not gain stock in Verici via this holding?

As a relatively new holder the access to spin off investments is most appealing and Trellus is a company which I look forward to see listed.

AIMHO
GLA
BTG

[wan] 14/10/2020 05:55

Not exactly, but it does if you are an EKF shareholder that kept their Renalytix in specie shares distributed by EKF (as I did and added further to), and perhaps demonstrates to new EKF shareholders the 'other' value and opportunities that can be realised from the EKF and Mount Sinai relationship. Next up in this regard is Trellus Health -

Strategic investment
As previously announced, EKF and Mount Sinai Innovations Partners entered into a relationship to identify technologies to advance a novel digital health platform for early intervention and better care management for patients with IBD, resulting in the formation of and investment into Trellus Health.

The financing was led by EKF in partnership with Mount Sinai Health System (“MSHS”). EKF believes that the Trellus Health digital health platform will provide substantial value for patients and providers, and has the potential to provide attractive returns to shareholders. It is the Trellus Health investors’ intention, in the future, to conduct initial market soundings to determine the feasibility and timing of an initial public offering (IPO), and the potential admission to trading on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM) for Trellus Health. If an IPO was to take place the expectation would be for this to take place in early 2021. EKF expects to distribute its holding in Trellus Health to its shareholders by way of a distribution in specie as soon as is practicable. Further announcements will be made, as appropriate.
Full release -

[speedsgh] 13/10/2020 16:01

Does this have any relevance here?...



Verici Dx plc, a developer of advanced clinical diagnostics for organ transplant, announces that it intends to apply to have its issued share capital, as enlarged by a proposed placing, subscription and a Restricted Offer (as defined below) (together, the "Fundraising"), admitted to trading on AIM in due course ("Admission").

This announcement follows on from recent updates provided by Renalytix AI plc (LSE: RENX) (NASDAQ: RNLX), on 2 September 2020 and 8 July 2020, and this release is being linked to the RENX ticker for information purposes only.

[marvelman] 13/10/2020 15:46

There is surely a seller that has been with for some time now. Each time the share price begins any break out of the 6op bid range it is bounced back by a spate of selling...that is not PI action. No holding announcement since February apart from conversion of 400,000 options..strange and frustrating.

[btgman] 12/10/2020 11:25

The next update is going to be intriguing to say the least I am surprised that the underlying market hasn't really got a hold of EKF yet. Yes it has gone up but with everything going on it is way undervalued. I will be amazed if we do not see a very significant upgrade in November and a batch of further orders

AIMHO
GLA
BTG

[wan] 12/10/2020 11:12

Exactly how a sample needs to be introduced to certain point of care devices, such as lateral flow/ELISA devices, can apparently be crucial. This aspect has been piquing my interest since the revelation that the new PrimeStore ATM product could potentially revolutionise antigen testing (by directing some of my efforts to understand what its importance could be in point of care/low cost settings).

With new devices being regarded as complimenting current lab testing efforts, and as we enter the flu season with infection rates unfortunately materially increasing (flu and COVID-19), it's a combination of sobering and pleasing that business is likely to be very healthy over the coming months, and that looks likely to extend well into 2021.

[epicsurf] 10/10/2020 20:34

A tweet on twitter little dated
Source BioScience

@SourceBio

·

Sep 11

We have almost doubled our UK workforce in 3 months!

As our COVID-19 testing service increases in demand our team continues to grow! We are proud to be recruiting during the pandemic. Interested in joining us? Contact us to find out more: [e-mail]
Link to article

[mirandaj] 10/10/2020 15:23

wan,

Your 635.

As in the past it could possibly be a case of a fund manager thinking he could drip feed tiny orders into the market but sometimes they did it to try to keep the price at a certain level for whatever reason.  Sometimes it can be a computer glitch where a dealer had set up a programme to send an order on to the order book regularly but erroneously it would send a 1 share order.  Those are easy to stop.   It is illegal to put orders up if there is no genuine order from a client behind it - that is called layering.  Of course you can put an iceberg onto the order book where only the tip is showing and once that gets taken then the next tranche instantly loads.  Icebergs are another story.  It does not really explain very small orders of 2,3, 4 shares appearing and if the stock is not particularly busy and the market maker is not really bothered it can go on until someone points it out. The Exchange keep an eye on these things and will deal with it if it is pointed out by a market maker. 


I have looked and noticed that there were 3 trades done in EKF yesterday at a time of 14:54:52. 10k and 2k at 58.5 p and 2 shares at 58p. To some that looks like a market maker hitting the order book for anything above (or below, depending on whether it was a buy or sell) so he probably got 12k and lifted the 2 shares at the same time.

Hope this helps.

[eeza] 10/10/2020 15:21

Bot trading is the reason for the small trades. They only pay a ridiculous small fee for each trade.
Almost all stocks are now afflicted by the HFT traders.

The Stock Market authorities slowly strangling the Golden Goose in its indecent greed.