XPhyto Therapeutics Corp (CSE:XPHY) (OTCPINK:XPHYF) has revealed that no time has been wasted following the deal struck with German firm 3a-Diagnostics - announced on Monday - to develop and commercialize oral screening tests for infectious diseases, including coronavirus (COVID-19).
XPhyto said its German subsidiary, Vektor Pharma has taken delivery of certain peptide biosensors from 3a to adapt them for use with Vektor's oral dissolvable thin film (ODF) platform.
READ: XPhyto Therapeutics partners with German biotech firm to develop coronavirus screening test
"We are very pleased to move so quickly from signing the Agreement to product development work," Professor Dr Thomas Beckert, managing director of Vektor, told investors in a statement on Wednesday.
"The XPhyto team shares 3a's vision of developing screening tools for rapid, low-cost and easy to self-administer detection of pathogens to manage infectious diseases on a population scale," he added.
The adaption of these biosensors to Vektor's ODF platform is expected to occur in several stages over around 30 days, said the firm. These stages include the application of formula to ODF (oral thin films) and analytical evaluation of ODF physical and chemical properties.
During this period, Vektor will also begin strategic planning for small-scale EU GMP test-manufacturing, said XPhyto.
This is expected to begin for trial purposes pending successful technical development of ODF biosensors for some or all of 3a's existing portfolio indications - stomatitis, periimplantitis, periodontitis, scarlet fever, and influenza.
3a, based near Stuttgart, specializes in developing, producing, and marketing point-of-care test systems.
XPhyto will retain an exclusive global license to commercialize all new products developed by 3a and a non-exclusive global license for the current products in development.
3a owns a proprietary biosensor platform while XPhyto specializes in manufacturing oral dissolvable thin film medical products through its 100%-owned subsidiary Vektor Pharma TF GmbH.
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