Viragen, Inc.

Cipla Limited announced the commercialisation of a polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kit 'ViraGen' for Covid-19 in India, in partnership with Ubio Biotechnology Systems Pvt. Ltd. ViraGen is Cipla's third offering in the Covid-19 testing segment. Cipla already has partnerships for antibody detection kit and antigen test kits. Cipla is staying true to its promise of providing quality access to healthcare and is at the forefront of Covid care with the largest portfolio of offerings across the care continuum from protection, detection, treatment and post recovery. ViraGen is a real-time detection kit approved by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and is based on multiplex PCR technology. It helps to identify and detect SARS CoV-2 N gene and ORF lab gene with the sensitivity of 98.6% and the specificity of 98.8% as compared to a standard ICMR test. This test is designed for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in the upper and lower respiratory specimens from individuals suspected of Covid-19. ViraGen used for qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 will be manufactured by Ubio Biotechnology Systems and marketed and distributed by Cipla through its expansive distribution network across the country. In the current circumstances, Covid-19 RT- PCR testing is extensively used throughout the country as governments, communities, and organizations are working tirelessly to track and curb the spread of the virus. This launch will help address the current testing services and capacity issues while reaffirming the company's ongoing expansion in the diagnostic space. The company commence supply of the detection kit from May 25, 2021.

LONDON (Reuters) - A potential breakthrough in the production of protein-based drugs in the eggs of genetically modified chickens lifted shares in British biotech firm Oxford Biomedica eight percent on Monday. Biomedica said it and U.S. partner Viragen had managed to generate transgenic chicken lines with an efficiency of the order of 10 to 100-fold higher than any previously published method. Several biotech groups are working on new ways to produce antibodies and other complex protein drugs in milk, eggs or farm crops, as a cheap alternative to making them from cell cultures in stainless steel vats. MeSH Headings: Animals, Laboratory : Animals, Transgenic : Invertebrates : Organisms, Transgenic Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.