INDIA – Mylab Discovery Solutions has joined forces with DnaNudge, a British company specializing in DNA testing, to develop and bring to market next-generation molecular diagnostic solutions for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) detection.
The novel diabetic foot ulcer detection kit will deliver early identification of the spectrum of microbial flora in the ulcer and support clinicians in planning appropriate antimicrobial therapy regimes.
The kit will be introduced in the markets in the second quarter of 2023, which marks a huge step forward in ongoing efforts to improve foot ulcer diagnosis and identify appropriate treatment approaches.
“The test can identify the bacteria involved in the infection and provide molecular antimicrobial resistance (AMR) results in just over an hour,” Mylab said in a statement.
The new kits will provide a key tool for the early initiation of therapy, which can play a pivotal role in the management of diabetic foot infections and delivering successful treatment outcomes.
Many studies highlight that the complete identification of bacteria present in wounds is difficult with traditional culture methods, as they do not fully reveal the presence of bacterial diversity.
DFU patients are at risk of developing wounds that are often hard to heal, with an increased risk for infection leading to frequent hospitalization and in some cases, lower limb amputation.
According to the company statement, diabetic foot ulcers are among the most common complications of patients who have diabetes mellitus.
“The collaboration between Mylab and DnaNudge aims to save lives and limbs from amputation, in the 80 million diabetic population of India,” stated the biotechnology company.
The firms reaffirmed to the clinicians that their final product will be able to detect the bacteria in foot ulcers that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics from a range of human samples.
The diabetic foot ulcer detection kit is the world’s first point-of-decision molecular technology solution, the companies claimed.
It will allow clinicians to determine which antibiotics will be optimally effective against these bacteria, enabling more personalised treatment and reducing the risk of AMR.
The collaboration seeks to reduce the enormous financial burden diabetes mellitus places on the patient and the health care services and improve access to cutting-edge molecular diagnostics worldwide.
Under the strategic partnership, Mylab and DnaNudge will also jointly introduce point-of-decision testing kits for health conditions of major public health concern in India.
The signing ceremony was presided over by Regius Professor Chris Toumazou, Co-founder of DnaNudge and Founder of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London, and Hasmukh Rawal, Managing Director of Mylab.
Additionally, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, Former Prime Minister of Thailand, and Yingluck Shinawatra, Former Prime Minister of Thailand, attended the signing ceremony between the two companies.
The strategic deal will harness the combination of India’s first-class medical diagnostics capabilities and DnaNudge’s deep expertise in point-of-care genetics testing technology to deliver near-patient diagnostics, and ultimately improve people’s lives everywhere.
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