Axela and Hutman Diagnostics last week announced progress in the co-development of a multiplex pathogen detection system.
The two companies first announced a deal in September that would integrate Hutman's tests on Axela's Ziplex microarray platform, enabling the firms to offer the market automated bacterial detection from uncultured blood samples and other non-culture biological samples.
According to the new statement, this has been achieved, and the companies will now hammer out a commercial strategy for bringing the offering to market.
Axela President Paul Smith said in a statement that the two firms have demonstrated the "sensitivity and speed of analysis necessary" to identify panels of infectious agents from uncultured blood in a matter of hours. While the initial collaboration is based on the detection of endocarditis, Axela and Hutman plan to develop tests for pneumonia, fever, and meningitis, Smith said.
The companies aim to make the automated system available next year.
Basel, Switzerland-based Hutman already sells pathogen detection kits that include arrays printed on glass slides that are processed manually using commercially available equipment as well as Hutman's proprietary software.
Hutman CEO Paul Hofer said in a statement that by integrating Hutman's kits and software with Axela's automated flow-thru array technology for multiplex nucleic acid and protein detection, the company will be able to market its assays directly to hospital laboratories and other clinical institutions, ultimately resulting in "effective targeting of antibiotics … improved patient outcomes, and significant savings to the health care system."