BATM Advanced Communications Ltd (LSE:BVC) said its associate company, ADOR Diagnostics, has entered into a cooperation agreement with BIOASTER to develop tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Through its collaboration with BIOASTER, a French microbiology technology research institute, BATM said it expects to speed up the development of an STI panel, using the Lyon-based company’s “significant experience” in R&D.
BATM, a provider of technologies or networking solutions and medical laboratory systems, said it is “expanding the range of panels in the ADOR system, NATlab, for groups of diseases.”
Panels - a type of test that looks for variants in more than one gene - used for detecting STIs will join those that detect meningitis, respiratory diseases and tuberculosis, which will broaden the base of tests and increase the attractiveness of the solution, it added.
BATM said this will also increase the addressable market for NATlab, with the diagnosis of STIs having a market value of roughly US$1bn.
“By working with BIOASTER, we expect to accelerate the development of molecular diagnostic tests that can rapidly and simply identify the infection-causing pathogen to enable the correct treatment to be administered without delay,” said Dr Zvi Marom, chief executive of BATM in a statement.