Nov 1, 2022
AUSTIN, TX, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QMC Health Incorporated announced today an agreement with Lawson Health Research Institute for the exclusive rights to novel blood biomarkers that characterize Long COVID disease. The discovery of the biomarkers identified by a research team at Lawson, led by Dr. Douglas Fraser, was recently published in the journal, Molecular Medicine1. QMC Health will use these biomarkers to develop a Long COVID point-of-care rapid test based on its QDX™ HPFIS (High-Performance Fluorescent Immuno-Sensors) for high sensitivity bio-detection and quantification to develop a best-in-class, low-cost rapid diagnostic testing assay platform.
Currently, clinical diagnosis of Long COVID is an unresolved and formidable global challenge. The CDC estimates that 7.5 percent of the U.S. adult population has long COVID symptoms.2 David Cutler, PhD, a professor of economics at Harvard University, estimates in a recent research disclosure, that the total economic cost of long COVID could be as much as $3.7 trillion.3
“Long COVID is affecting the lives of millions yet there is no conclusive diagnostic test. With the Long COVID biomarkers from Lawson, we believe QMC Health is well-positioned to develop an accurate and rapid Long COVID point of care test,” said Stephen Squires, President, and CEO of QMC Health Inc. “Long-Covid is a multisystemic disease that involves many organs and presents a wide range of symptoms. Our goal is to do our part to improve a current diagnostic process that is plagued by the absence of a conclusive test for Long COVID. Most importantly, a conclusive diagnostic tool could help millions of people, who in the absence of a confident diagnosis, suffer increased mental and physical anguish along with high medical costs to rule out disease.”
"The QDX™ HPFIS platform delivers a low-cost rapid test with high sensitivity and multiplex capabilities not previously found in a lateral flow test format. When you consider its ease of use, accuracy, and rapid turnaround time, the platform is a natural choice for next generation point of care testing, particularly for more complex disease states such as Long COVID and Sepsis where changes in targets are much more discrete, and three or more biomarkers are necessary to provide a conclusive diagnosis," stated Dr. Douglas Fraser, Lawson Scientist, Critical Care Physician at London Health Sciences Centre, Professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. discovered the novel, patent pending Long COVID biomarkers.
Squires added that, "QMC Health has formed its regulatory team of internal and external experts and is establishing the appropriate regulatory procedures to ensure that the test is developed to adhere to the strictest parameters and industry standards. QMC Heath is also communicating with U.S government health agencies to explore possibilities for collaborations."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, QMC Health developed the HPFIS technology for use in the formulation of bio-conjugates for use in rapid flow assays. QMC Health intends to expand its diagnostic capabilities and is developing a range of tests to address other diseases and conditions.