Profil Title	Viral/Bacterial Diagnostics For Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Reference Nr.	12 GB 44O6 3OB1
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Profil Type	Request
Entry/Update	2012-04-20 / 2012-04-20

Abstract	A global healthcare company is currently seeking diagnostic technology to allow healthcare professionals, pharmacists, nurses, or patients themselves perform a rapid turn-around test when presented with symptoms affecting the upper respiratory tract to determine the correct course of action.
Details	Many symptoms relating to the upper respiratory tract are caused by differing agents. Some may be viral and others bacterial. In order to ensure that the treatment is appropriate to the underlying cause of the symptoms it is important to determine if bacterial or viral agents are responsible (e.g. if viral ? symptomatic relief; if bacterial ? antibiotics). The Company is seeking: Technologies/Tests/Processes able to provide one of the following from a ‘patient’: 1.Bacterial Infection Diagnosis – Able to determine the presence of a (non-specific) bacterial infection through sample testing (usually blood or saliva, but could be others). 2.Viral (cold & flu based) Infection Diagnosis – Able to determine the presence of a specific viral infection through a saliva sample. Viruses that represent the highest level of incidence: Rhinovirus, Coronavirus, Adenovirus, Respiratory Syncytial and Flu A/B. 3.Strep A Infection Diagnosis – A specific class of the bacterial test above. Strep A tests already exist, and the need here is to improve considerably the ease-of-use, sampling and increased specificity and selectivity. 4.Flu A/B Infection Diagnosis – A specific class of the viral test above. Flu A/B tests are very useful, especially during outbreaks, but are currently too complex for ease-of-use. Tests should ideally be in a platform that allows ease of use by Healthcare Professionals (Mandatory), Pharmacists / Nurses (Preferred) and consumers (Desirable). It is expected that the platform will be based on conventional Lateral Flow Device technology (LFD), but the company is open to other formats. Tests should preferably be all-in-one, one use and disposable. The potential for an electronic reader is viable, but cost implications may make this route a challenge. Tests should be of the disposable kind (low cost) and not require specialist (expensive) instrumentation to read/analyse, should provide results within a 10 minute window and be easy to use. Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements: Mandatory – A clear description of the technology and data to support – in-vitro proof of concept studies. Preferred – Products / clinical trials that demonstrate viability of technology. Sensitivity and specificity claims should be substantiated. Costs of reagents/kit required for a single test. Desirable – In-vivo proof of concept studies. Routes to manufacture established. The device should also meet the following requirements for incorporation into a consumer product: 1. Not be harmful for human use 2. Manufacturing process proposed should not be cost prohibitive 3. Overall product cost appropriate for consumer use products 4. Technology must not reduce the quality of the user’s experience e.g. skin irritation/burn, overly bulky 5. Ideally offer scope for patent protection with the desired application and format.
Technology sector	- Applications for Health - Pharmaceutics - Medicine, Human Health - Care and Health Services - Diagnostics, Diagnosis
Market application
Patent Rights (IPR)
Cooperation type	- License Agreement - Joint further development - Testing of new applications - Adaptation to specific needs - Absolutely novel process # Type of partner sought SMEs, spin off companies from Academia. # Specific area of activity of the partner Diagnostics. Viral and infectious research. # Task to be performed by the partner sought Provide research up to in-vivo proof of concept of the technology proposed.
Organisation type	Industry     Org. Size: > 500
Status	Sorry, this request is already solved by the Enterprise Europe Network!