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RedKnight helps secure grant for med-tech start-up’s rapid COVID-19 diagnostic
RedKnight Consultancy Ltd has supported GeneFirst Ltd with its successful application to Horizon 2020, securing the med-tech start-up and its four collaborating partners (two SMEs and two hospitals) over €2.8m in Horizon 2020 grant funding to optimise and clinically validate GeneFirst’s innovative Multiplex Probe Amplification Technology (MPA).
In response to the need for faster and better detection of multiple respiratory pathogens, GeneFirst has developed the proprietary technology to simultaneously detect and differentiate SARS-CoV-2 and 30 other common respiratory bacteria and viruses, allowing for accurate, cost-effective and comprehensive diagnoses.
As of July 2021, COVID-19 has caused over 191 million infections globally, claiming more than 4 million lives. With case numbers increasing each day, rapid and definitive diagnosis of SARS-Cov-2 is essential. However, research has shown that single target testing is not optimal; one study found that 5.8% of SARS-CoV-2 infected and 18.4% of non-SARS-CoV-2-infected patients had other concurrent pathogen infections. Concerningly, failure to distinguish between different pathogens can have adverse effects, including unnecessary antimicrobial use, cross-infection of mis-grouped patients, and further spreading of the infection.
Through the RAPID-COVID project, the consortium aims to analytically and clinically validate GeneFirst’s assay on both high throughput and point of care platforms. This strategy provides maximum flexibility for screening and triage, allows better and faster care, alleviates pressures on healthcare systems, and improves patient recovery rates.
Dr Winnie Wu, COO at GeneFirst, said: “We are ecstatic with this outcome and all consortium partners are very excited to be involved in the project. For an SME, securing this funding allows GeneFirst to further its R&D and to deliver these crucial diagnostics at scale and pace in time for the winter season. We have pulled together a great project team for the delivery.
“We credit our bid success to the RedKnight team. Without their support, we would not have been able to achieve what we did in the short time needed to submit the application. We found RedKnight to be professional and diligent, and it has been a real pleasure working with them. This is our first collaborative opportunity, and I am confident that our partnership will continue into the future.”
Mr Dayne Hodgson, Company Director at RedKnight, commented: “Securing this funding was a phenomenal achievement, given we only had four weeks to develop and finalise the 70-page proposal. In total, 144 applications were submitted to the Innovative Medicines Initiative competition, of which just eight projects were selected for funding (6% success rate). The successful projects are among the most promising advances in therapeutics and diagnostics to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We are delighted for GeneFirst to be considered amongst the leading players in the area, and we look forward to seeing the results of the clinical studies which, if successful, will pave the way for future commercialisation of the novel diagnostic.”
