The Native Antigen Company - Native antigens for rapid point of care diagnostics
Lead Participant:
THE NATIVE ANTIGEN COMPANY LTD
Abstract
Early detection of infectious disease offers the greatest opportunity to contain potential
outbreaks, save lives and decrease the economic burden of healthcare. Rapid diagnostic test
kits are one of the most effective ways to achieve this, allowing health care workers or
members of the public to identify disease in the community. These tests, usually in the form
of strips or cassettes, provide a visual indication if a specific disease is present. A vital
component of a test kit is the disease ‘antigen’ which is a copy of the target disease that is
able to detect antibodies in human samples. Manufacturing these antigens is very challenging
using standard techniques and synthetic antigens are often very poor representatives of the
real pathogen. For these reasons there are many diseases for which there are no suitable rapid
test kits or if they exist, they are generally of poor accuracy.
The Native Antigen Company (NAC) specialises in addressing the need for rapid diagnosis by
producing high quality, authentic antigens. The company’s unique skills and capabilities are
drawn from its early connection with the vaccine industry. We are now at the stage of
seeking to expand our level of research expertise to produce antigens for emerging markets
which are more challenging to manufacture and have a high impact of improving healthcare.
One example of this is Dengue Fever, an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue
virus. Unless detected early and controlled, the disease may manifest into the life-threatening
dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF is now endemic in more than 110 countries and
severe forms of the disease carry a mortality of up to 26%.
Producing a suitable antigen which will, for the first time, offer a simple cost effective means
to accurately detect DHF at the community level will require new innovation. This project
will exemplify a new platform opportunity for the company and enable us, in the future, to
address other pathogens.
outbreaks, save lives and decrease the economic burden of healthcare. Rapid diagnostic test
kits are one of the most effective ways to achieve this, allowing health care workers or
members of the public to identify disease in the community. These tests, usually in the form
of strips or cassettes, provide a visual indication if a specific disease is present. A vital
component of a test kit is the disease ‘antigen’ which is a copy of the target disease that is
able to detect antibodies in human samples. Manufacturing these antigens is very challenging
using standard techniques and synthetic antigens are often very poor representatives of the
real pathogen. For these reasons there are many diseases for which there are no suitable rapid
test kits or if they exist, they are generally of poor accuracy.
The Native Antigen Company (NAC) specialises in addressing the need for rapid diagnosis by
producing high quality, authentic antigens. The company’s unique skills and capabilities are
drawn from its early connection with the vaccine industry. We are now at the stage of
seeking to expand our level of research expertise to produce antigens for emerging markets
which are more challenging to manufacture and have a high impact of improving healthcare.
One example of this is Dengue Fever, an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue
virus. Unless detected early and controlled, the disease may manifest into the life-threatening
dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF is now endemic in more than 110 countries and
severe forms of the disease carry a mortality of up to 26%.
Producing a suitable antigen which will, for the first time, offer a simple cost effective means
to accurately detect DHF at the community level will require new innovation. This project
will exemplify a new platform opportunity for the company and enable us, in the future, to
address other pathogens.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| THE NATIVE ANTIGEN COMPANY LTD | £55,066 | £ 33,039 |
Participant |
||
| TECHNITEX FARADAY LIMITED |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Peter Cunliffe (Project Manager) |