Avacta Stops Sales of COVID-19 Antigen Test to Improve Omicron Sensitivity

By Amna Karimi and Pushkala Aripaka

(Reuters) – Britain’s Avacta Group is halting sales of the COVID-19 antigenic rapid flow test to replace the antibodies in the device and increase its ability to detect the Omicron variant, the biotechnology company said on Monday, dipping its shares by almost 27%. .

The London-based AffiDX test can detect Omicron variants when the virus is present in large numbers in samples, but tests by Avacta have found that AffiDX has a lower sensitivity to Omicron in lower viral loads compared to other variants.

Scientists and the government are working to strengthen their defenses against Omicron by decoding tests, plans, therapies and the viral genome to measure the extent to which the variant is a widespread threat to global dominance.

“Our decision to offer only high-performance diagnostic tests … has led us to make the decision to suspend all marketing of the AffiDX side-flow antigen test,” said Alastair Smith, CEO of Avacta, asking others to assess their sensitivity as well. products to Omicron.

Experts and health authorities warn https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/rapid-nose-swab-tests-covid-may-not-detect-omicron-quickly-enough-expert-says-2022- 01-07 COVID-19 rapid antigen testing, which is based on nasal swabs, may not detect Omicron fast enough because people can transmit it in the early stages of the infection before the virus reaches the nose.

The tests are well-known for home and travel checkpoints for their fast results and lower prices compared to other tested tests.

Although Avacta did not say when it expects to start selling an AffiDX test that is better suited to Omicron, the COVID-19 test “remains a long-term commercial option,” it said for the company.

The company’s shares fell from 26.5% to 85.25 cents in London’s morning trade, and in 2021 it recorded an 11% gain.

Avacta and other test authors also had to take some COVID-19 tests out of the UK market after a new review system came into force, as they have not yet been approved for the approved products.