- Microbix (MBX) & Seegene Canada form COVID-variant collaboration
- In this collaboration, Seegene becomes a QAPs distributor and will recommend Microbix’s whole-genome COVID-variant QAPs to support Seegene’s molecular assays
- Seegene’s unique Allplex assays more rapidly and economically detect the genetic point-mutations associated with these variants
- Microbix develops proprietary biological technology solutions for human health and well-being
- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (MBX) is in the grey and is trading at C$0.59 at market close
Seegene Canada will distribute Microbix’s new COVID-variant Quality Assessment Products to monitor the workflow accuracy of Seegene Allplex® assays across Canada.
In this collaboration, Seegene becomes a QAPs distributor and will recommend Microbix’s whole-genome COVID-variant QAPs to support Seegene’s molecular assays that detect the more-contagious emerging strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus – initially the Brazilian, South African, & UK variants (P.1, B.1.351, & B1.1.7 respectively).
Seegene’s unique Allplex assays more rapidly and economically detect the genetic point-mutations associated with these variants.
In turn, Microbix’s novel COVID-variant QAPs will monitor the workflow accuracy and laboratory testing performance of those assays.
Combining Seegene’s Allplex new-variant detection assays with Microbix’s new-variant QAPs creates a faster, less-expensive, accurate, and effective means of assessing the prevalence of viral variants in populations.
Microbix’s QAPs are available to support both PCR-based (molecular) and antigen-based SARS-CoV-2 assays in refrigerator-stable liquid vials or formatted on Copan® FLOQSwabs® and room-temperature stable. Microbix’s PROCEEDx™ brand QAPs are RUO samples.
Regular use of QAPs helps ensure the accuracy of laboratory-conducted assays, such as for variant detection.
James Yantzi, CEO of Seegene Canada, commented, “It is vital for Canadian laboratories to have immediate access to the tools they require to generate the data that guides Canada’s public health responses.”
Phil Casselli, SVP of Business Development at Microbix, remarked, “The emergence of variant viral strains drove us to create additional QAPs to support important new assays such as Seegene’s.”
“We are delighted to count Seegene Canada as a supporter of Microbix, a technical collaborator, and our latest QAPs distributor,” concluded Casselli.
Microbix develops proprietary biological technology solutions for human health and well-being, with about 90 skilled employees and sales growing from a base of over $1 million per month.
Microbix also applies its biological expertise and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and technologies.
Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQB and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Seegene Canada Inc. is a Toronto-based subsidiary of Seegene Inc. (of Seoul, Republic of Korea).
Seegene companies are global leaders in multiplex molecular diagnostics and offer platforms with real-time PCR amplification technologies.
Microbix Biosystems Inc. (MBX) is in the grey and is trading at C$0.59 at market close.
