Sense Biodetection steps up EU push with new Covid diagnostic deal

Molecular diagnostics innovator Sense Biodetection has broken new ground with a revolutionary device to detect COVID-19.

With bases in Cambridge and Oxford in the UK and Massachusetts in the States, Sense has struck a strategic agreement with Swiss company TECOmedical for the initiative.

The partners have agreed a non-exclusive distribution of Sense’s Veros COVID-19 – the first test on its rapid, instrument-free, point-of-care Veros molecular testing platform.  

The self-contained, single-use Veros COVID-19 product produces PCR-quality results in about 15 minutes unconstrained by a reader or need for external power. 

TECOmedical, a Eurobio Scientific company, is a leading specialty medical distributor with proven success developing new markets with innovative technology. 

Effective immediately in Germany and Austria and pending regulatory approval in Switzerland, the agreement is the latest in Sense’s planned EU distribution partnerships as it commercialises the Veros platform. 

Ryan Roberts, chief commercial officer of Sense, said: “We are delighted to partner with TECOmedical to bring Veros COVID-19 to the market, building on the impressive reputation that TECOmedical has established with its customers.

“We’re optimistic that by adding the instrument-free Veros COVID-19 to their diagnostic portfolio, TECOmedical’s customers will be able to take advantage of a laboratory-quality molecular test that can enable improved access and faster diagnosis – helping them to provide exceptional care for their patients right at the point of use.” 

TECOmedical CEO Marieluise Wippermann added: “We are always looking for innovative technologies that address an unmet need. Being able to offer an instrument free, PCR-quality result in minutes right at the Point of Care reflects our commitment to customers to bring solutions that help them overcome limitations of existing technologies and improve care. 

“We are excited to launch Veros COVID-19 now and are eagerly anticipating an expanded Veros test menu in the future.”

Veros is marketed as the first and only instrument-free, single-use, rapid, point-of-care molecular diagnostic testing platform that produces lab-quality results in about 15 minutes. 

Using a proprietary, rapid molecular amplification technology, Veros aims to help to improve access to rapid, highly accurate, point of care testing for many more people and help reduce the spread of COVID-19 with faster, more precise diagnoses.  

The solution’s clinical performance was established in one of the most comprehensive clinical trials in COVID-19 diagnostic testing conducted to date.

The multicentre study prospectively enrolled nearly 300 evaluable subjects during both the Delta and Omicron variant surges of the pandemic. All study sites represented near-patient testing / point-of-care environments, with all test operators reporting no prior formal laboratory training or experience. 

All operators agreed the Veros COVID-19 was easy-to-use, read and understand the results, with minimal hands-on time required from start to finish. 

As the virus continues to evolve, Veros COVID-19 has maintained 100 per cent conservation in all Variants of Interest and Concern identified to date by WHO and the US CDC, including all Omicron sub-variants.

Backed by respected investors, such as Koch Disruptive Technologies, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Earlybird Health and Mercia Asset Management, Sense is growing rapidly while building a portfolio of tests for other diseases.