On Jul. 18, 2019, Chembio Diagnostics announced a collaboration with Shire Human Genetic Therapies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a global pharmaceutical company, to develop a novel POC diagnostic test to detect an undisclosed biomarker.

Under terms of the agreement, Chembio will receive funding from Takeda, subject to satisfying certain milestones, to develop a quantitative POC test utilizing Chembio’s patented DPP platform and hand-held optical analyzer. The development of the POC test will build upon Takeda’s technical research on a unique set of biomarkers and is expected to provide quantitative results in approximately 15 minutes from a small 10µL drop of fingerstick blood.

Chembio’s DPP platform is the same technology used for the company’s DPP HIV 1/2 Assay, which has achieved numerous regulatory approvals, including FDA-approval, CLIA-waiver, WHO prequalification, CE mark, and ANVISA approval.