Therma Bright Inc confirmed that antibodies incorporated in its AcuVid COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Saliva Test have been tested and can successfully detect the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variant.
Ever since the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) became a global pandemic in early 2020, a variety of new variants have emerged and the scientific community has worked tirelessly to evaluate each strain and its impact on the public's health.
The Omicron variant, discovered in early November 2021 in South Africa and Botswana, has now become a growing global concern, and has been discovered in numerous countries around the world -- including the US, Canada, the UK, and several Western and Eastern European nations.
READ: Therma Bright inks deal to boost production of AcuVid COVID-19 tests to meet FDA guidance
In fact, on December 3, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the Omicron variant has been detected in at least 38 countries, and early data suggests it's more contagious than the Delta variant.
To date, Therma Bright said its AcuVid saliva test solution has successfully detected not only the original Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but other WHO variants of concern, including the P.1 and P.2 variants discovered in Brazil, the B.1.1.7 variant from the UK, the highly contagious Delta variant from India, and now the Omicron variant from the South Africa region.
"We're pleased to confirm that the antibodies incorporated in our saliva test have been tested and can successfully detect the Omicron variant," said Therma Bright CEO Rob Fia in a statement.
"Now, as our partners finalize our U.S. AcuVid clinical performance study to submit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), our team is making sure we checkoff each new EUA Guidance, including the September 23, 2021 guidance on testing all COVID-19 Variants of Concern, and the November 15, 2021 guidance on production capabilities of a minimum of 500,000 tests per week."
In other news, Therma Bright said it began fulfilling the first 2500 Venowave 2-unit kit order to DME Authority, the company's exclusive U.S. distributor based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Furthermore, Therma Bright officially launched its Venowave.com e-commerce site for direct-to-consumer sales, as highlighted earlier in its Benepod.com e-commerce site announcement.
The company also said it issued 100,000 warrants exercisable for one common share for two years at $0.39 each. All of these securities are subject to a hold period expiring April 26, 2021.
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