NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Boehringer Ingelheim and GNA Biosolutions have entered into a research collaboration to develop emergency veterinary diagnostics, specifically a rapid diagnostic test for African swine fever to be used on a GNA portable molecular diagnostic platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Currently there are no effective treatments or vaccines for ASF, a viral infection which causes severe disease and high mortality in pigs.
GNA has developed a PCR technology called pulsed control amplification that rapidly regulates temperature with so-called microcyclers diffused in the master mix solution. The company previously adapted a laser-based PCR platform and pathogen detection cartridges for Ebola testing, and launched its Pharos V8 platform for research use in Europe in 2017.
"This collaboration further emphasizes the role of GNA Biosolutions in the rapidly developing field of extra-laboratory diagnostics and extends the application of our pulse controlled amplification technology into animal protection," Lars Ullerich, GNA Biosolutions cofounder and managing director, said in a statement.
Rolf-Dieter Günther, global head of diagnostics and monitoring in the Animal Health division at Boehringer Ingelheim, added that the test system "will allow for faster decision making based on more comprehensive diagnostic data."