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FIND and Chemogen, Inc.
Press release25 April 2005 FIND and Chemogen, Inc.Chemogen, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an Agreement and signed a Letter of Intent with the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). The Agreement covers an evaluation study of Chemogen’s Urine LAM-ELISA (Lipoarabinomannan-Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) as a TB screening test in patients with symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The rigorous design of the Study provides for the determination of the predictive values of Chemogen’s LAM-ELISA in 600-700 patients presenting symptoms of pulmonary TB in the Mbeya municipality of Tanzania.The study was designed jointly by FIND, Chemogen and the Department of Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine at the University of Munich and is expected to be completed in 11 to 13 months. The Co-Principal Investigators of the Study are Michael Hoelscher, MD and Catharina Boehme, MD; both from the University of Munich. Dr. Boehme will also serve as the Study’s Project Coordinator. The Letter of Intent with FIND provides for the terms and conditions of a subsequent partnership which will start upon successful completion of the Tanzanian study between FIND and Chemogen to develop and launch a Point of Care product in the immunochromatographic test (ICT) “strip” format. The ICT test will represent a second generation product and will transform the advantages of the LAM-ELISA into a new, innovative tool which can bring tuberculosis diagnosis to populations so far not reached with presently established methods. The “strip” test is considered the ideal format for a Point-of-Care product for the detection of TB in low-income, high-endemic areas. Chemogen’s President, David Laconi, points out: “In addition, the ‘strip’ is user friendly and will rapidly assist in closing the gap from detection to therapy which enhances the cure rate for millions of TB patients around the world.” Chemogen and FIND will jointly fund the Tanzanian Evaluation Study. FIND was established through funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate the development, evaluation, and appropriate use of high-quality yet affordable diagnostic tools for infectious diseases in developing countries. Chemogen is an early stage bio-technology company developing rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases based upon its novel proprietary technology. FIND is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and Chemogen in South Portland, Maine. For additional information, please contact Chemogen’s C.F.O., John P. O’Sullivan at (207) 772-2931 ext. 13. Chemogen website: http://www.chemogen.com. Media inquiries: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) © Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics 2008. Click here to see the copyright notice |
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