Co-Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CODX) Inc., which has a patented platform for the development of molecular diagnostic tests, revealed that none of the mutations in the heavily mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant recently discovered in Africa are expected to interfere with any of its suite of coronavirus (COVID-19) PCR diagnostic assays.
The Salt Lake City, Utah-based molecular diagnostics company said that the new coronavirus strain includes more than 50 mutations, over 30 of which are found on the virus's spike protein, the main target of the body's immune responses, and is currently being studied to determine whether the mutations lead to increased transmissibility, or ability to evade the body's immune response.
As countries moved to suspend flights from South Africa and other African countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a special meeting on November 26 to discuss what the new variant of concern, designated as Omicron by the WHO, could mean for vaccines and treatments.
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Co-Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CODX) said it “successfully assessed the effectiveness of its existing line of COVID-19 PCR diagnostics against the Omicron variant using publicly available sequencing data in the GISAID database,” and continues to monitor the performance of its tests as new variants are discovered.
In a statement, Co-Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CODX) CEO Dwight Egan said: "We are pleased to report that none of the over 50 mutations in this new variant are close enough to the targets of any of our COVID-19 diagnostics to interfere with their performance.”
“This includes our original Logix Smart COVID-19 assay, first developed in the early days of news about the novel coronavirus being discovered in China, our SARS-CoV-2 2-gene test, our ABC (flu A/flu B/COVID-19) multiplex assay, our COVID-19 extraction-free direct saliva test, and the test currently in development to be run on our upcoming at-home/point-of-care device."
The firm’s technology is utilized for tests that are designed using the detection and analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA). Co-Diagnostics also uses its technology to design specific tests to locate genetic markers for use in industries other than infectious disease and licenses the use of those tests to specific customers.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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