Atlanta, Georgia, January 21, 2021 – Boston Biopharma announced that the company in collaboration with Access Bio for international market has been named a finalist in the XPRIZE Rapid Covid Testing competition. The competition took into account the work on the development and extensive testing of the CareStart™ COVID-19 Antigen test. With only a 10-minute running time, the test allows rapid, accurate and effective screening of COVID-19 infection on a large scale, and in any location eligible for COVID-19 testing without the need for a separate analyzer.
XPRIZE Rapid Covid Testing is a six-month competition to develop faster, cheaper and easier-to-use COVID-19 testing methods at scale.
"Fast, affordable and accessible testing is crucial to containing the COVID-19 pandemic and safely reopening schools, businesses and other vital institutions around the world," said Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPRIZE.
Clinical evaluations indicate that CareStart™ COVID-19 Ag provides a sensitivity of 88.4% and specificity of 100%, which is comparable to reverse transcription (RT)-PCR testing. Furthermore, CareStart™ COVID-19 Ag provides results in 10 minutes while PCR generally takes 1 or 2 days.
The continuing spread of COVID-19 has spurred the need for rapid effective tests. Boston Biopharma has been working with leaders in this field to develop and promote various tests including ones to detect antigens of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. The antigen is stand-alone and simple to use. Utilizing nasal and nasopharangeal swabs, CareStart delivers fast results for confirmation of COVID-19 infection.
Finding a balance between the current methodology of testing, performed in the laboratory and rapid tests capable of producing real time results in the field that allow for a broad spectrum COVID-19 testing, has been the driving force in Boston Biopharma’s efforts to combat COVID-19. In addition to focusing on testing solutions the company has led efforts to distribute and conduct clinical tests in the United States, as well as use global experience and reach in the Middle East and North Africa to promote access to rapid testing in both developed and developing countries.
“Finding accessible solutions to combat the spread of COVID-19, including testing has been our priority since day one,” said Boston Biopharma’s CEO, Dr. Ahmad Hashem. “The advancement of our team to finalists in the XPRIZE is a proud moment, and a step forward in our efforts to solve a global problem with a sustainable and scalable solution.”
One single virus has impacted every human on the planet, whether physically, economically, socially, or through damages done to mental health. Even after months, the pandemic rages on. To enable a safer return to school, work, business, we need better testing solutions. The XPRIZE Rapid Covid Testing aims to scale testing capabilities by 100-times past the current standard, the level of increase needed to more safely return to everyday activities.
About Boston Biopharma Boston Biopharma is a US-based pharmaceutical company that specializes in providing the highest quality specialty medications worldwide, especially emerging countries. We do this through pioneering R&D, and licensing, manufacturing, and commercializing the finest therapeutics especially oncology, multiple sclerosis, and immunology.
Boston Biopharma is headquartered in the United States with offices inLithuania and Malta. With a focus on product quality and operational flexibility, Boston Biopharma develops pharmaceutical products for sale in markets around the world. Our firm brings decades of healthcare industry expertise to some of the most difficult markets. For more information visit www.bostonbiopharma.com
About Access Bio
Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, Access Bio is a manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic tests with the manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Ethiopia, and South Korea. The company (KOSDAQ: 950130) is dedicated to the prevention and early diagnosis of infectious diseases. Access Bio has a comprehensive line of diagnostic platforms, including rapid immunoassays, biosensors, and molecular tests. Of note, the company is the leading global supplier of rapid tests, annually making more than 150 million tests. To date, Access Bio has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its RT-PCR test, IgM/IgG antibody test and a rapid point-of-care (POC) antigen test and is providing testing solutions to diagnose, trace and curb the pandemic’s spread in the name of public health. https://accessbiodiagnostics.net/