Avacta Group Share News (AVCT)

(Sharecast News) - Biotechnology company Avacta on Thursday appointed BBI Solutions as a manufacturing partner for the development of its rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test.
Avacta said the manufacturing agreement between the pair comprised the accelerated development and validation of a scaled-up manufacturing process that it claimed had the potential to ramp up to a production capacity of millions of tests per month.

The AIM-listed group hopes to begin clinical validation of the test "as soon as possible" by using the first pilot batches generated as part of the technology transfer process.

In parallel with clinical validation studies, which will be run within the UK government's CONDOR programme and other potential international collaborators, BBI will work with Avacta and co-developer Cytiva to produce additional technical documentation required for CE marking of the final product.

Chief executive Dr Alastair Smith said: "We anticipate very high demand for the Covid-19 rapid test and will be working with our preferred manufacturing partners at BBI to satisfy that demand.

"We are actively continuing our discussions with other manufacturing partners to ensure that we have access to additional manufacturing capacity to address the global need for SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing both now, and in the next few years."

As of 1040 BST, Avacta shares were up 4.32% at 134.05p.