CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTIC SYSTESMS INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF BIOSYNEX, RECEIVES A GRANT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID POINT OF CARE TEST FOR PREECLAMPSIA
Chembio Diagnostic System, Inc. (Chembio), a wholly owned subsidiary of Biosynex, a leading point-of-care diagnostics company, today announced the award of a $0.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation for the development of a rapid point-of-care (POC) test to predict the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women with symptoms consistent with this condition.
Preeclampsia affects approximately 2-8% of pregnant women globally about 46,000 maternal deaths and approximately 500,000 stillbirths and neonatal deaths every year worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes preeclampsia as a major global health issue, contributing significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The burden of maternal mortality due to preeclampsia can be reduced through early detection and effective management. One daily challenge for care providers is to determine as soon as possible among symptomatic pregnant those who have preeclampsia and should be closely monitored. This is particularly crucial in LMIC where evidence-based triage is urgently needed in order to optimize resources and health benefit.
Since more than 10 years, biomarkers including PlGF and sFlt-1 have confirmed their value in predicting the occurrence and evolution of preeclampsia (PE) in women with suspicious symptoms. These biomarkers have shown high negative predictive value allowing secure outpatient monitoring and are routinely measured in several obstetrics departments in high-income countries to improve and strengthen the management of women at risk.
Chembio plans to bring to market a simple and inexpensive lateral flow test to help in the triage of pregnant women with symptoms consistent with preeclampsia. The test requires a drop of blood (20 microliters) with result available in less than 20 minutes. It detects sFlt-1, which has high predictive value for preeclampsia. Results are read visually or through a portable reader. The device is expected to have a major medical-economic impact as optimal triage will prompt the management of patients at risk and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and transfers to referral centers. It targets primarily low and middle-income countries.
Javan Esfandiari, President of Chembio commented, “We are delighted to receive funding from the Gates Foundation and look forward to developing a new simple test that could enable physicians to diagnose and monitor preeclampsia more quickly, improving outcomes for both mother and baby.”
Professor Vassilis Tsatsaris, Obstetrician at Port Royal Maternity Hospital in Paris, commented, “We are honored to receive this grant from the Gates Foundation. Providing a simple solution for the diagnosis of preeclampsia will represent a major advance in addressing this public health concern, for which there is currently no satisfactory solution.”
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About Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.
Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of the Biosynex Group, is a leading diagnostics company focused on the development, manufacture, and commercialization of point-of-care tests for infectious diseases. The company’s proprietary DPP® technology platform delivers high-quality, accurate results within minutes, supporting rapid diagnosis and improved patient outcomes worldwide.
For more information, visit www.chembio.com.
About BIOSYNEX
Founded in 2005, the French laboratory BIOSYNEX is a leading health diagnostics group, specializing in rapid tests, biotherapy monitoring, and molecular biology.
As a forward-thinking player in the future of medicine, BIOSYNEX advocates for the improvement of healthcare pathways and offers innovative health solutions to a variety of users, including laboratories, hospitals, doctors, and the general public, aimed at enhancing overall patient care.
Following its significant contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic, BIOSYNEX has gained new international stature in the rapid diagnostics field, partly due to its dynamic external growth strategy. The Group now has research, production, and distribution subsidiaries in the United States, Europe, and Asia, supporting its two business units: BIOSYNEX PHARMACY and BIOSYNEX DIAGNOSTICS.
For the general public: The BIOSYNEX Pharmacy division, specializing in self-diagnostics and family health products, distributes a comprehensive range of well-established and recognized brands across a wide network of pharmacies and parapharmacies, focusing on prevention, diagnostics, and natural care.
For professionals: The BIOSYNEX Diagnostics division, a technology-driven business operating in high-growth sectors, develops and provides laboratories, hospitals, doctors, and nursing homes with in vitro diagnostic medical devices in the form of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs and POC tests), molecular biology, and point-of-care (POC) products for screening, diagnosis, and prevention.
Based in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, Alsace, the BIOSYNEX Group employs over 500 people and has a presence in 95 countries. The Group achieved a turnover of €93 million in 2023. Listed on Euronext Growth Paris (FR0011005933 ALBIO), BIOSYNEX is eligible for PEA-PME.
For more information, visit www.biosynex.com.
