Member Info for B2HS2L

New COVID-19 variant
Mon, 21st Dec 2020 07:00
RNS Number : 2631J
Novacyt S.A.
21 December 2020

COVID-19 diagnostic tests remain able to detect all published virus strains

Paris, France and Camberley, UK - 21 December 2020 - Novacyt (EURONEXT GROWTH: ALNOV; AIM: NCYT), an international specialist in clinical diagnostics, announces that following the detection of a new variant of COVID-19 by the UK's COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium, known as VUI-202012/01, the Company has carried out a detailed analysis of the mutations in this new variant and in all published COVID-19 strains to fully assess the reliability of its existing diagnostic tests.

The results of the in silico (computer simulation) analysis of the sequenced mutations show that the Company's polymerase chain reaction product portfolio, based around a single and a two gene target for COVID-19, remain able to detect all published COVID-19 strains with the same high level of accuracy, including VUI-202012/01.

The Company notes this new strain of the virus has also been identified in other countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia.

Graham Mullis, Chief Executive Officer of Novacyt, commented:
"These data support the continued use of our tests, which remain accurate in detecting all published strains of COVID-19, including the latest variant. As part of our surveillance programme, we are committed to analysing our selected gene targets for COVID-19 against new published viral sequences to demonstrate ongoing accuracy and performance. We also remain in close contact with the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS as we continue to focus our efforts on deploying our tests to hospitals and laboratories across the UK, as well as to our customers around the world."
ENDS

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Sounds familiar with last weeks statement surely? -

http://novacyt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VoC_2021-12-01-15-04-00-1.pdf

Last year the RNS discussed ' in silico (computer simulation) analysis'.
This year we have 'we are confident that the performance of all Novacyt products, intended for primary SARS-CoV-2 testing, are unaffected by the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Signed group RA QA director.

This years news was if anything more RNS worthy, and other than Twitter, it's hidden in the companies website.
David Allmond, Tweet it by all means, but from last years precedent, an RNS must be in order.

SteveV -
In which case we need to be sure that the next SNPsig product (preferably PROmate) dealing with Omicron is ready for the market soonest, because any SNPsig product that does not deal with Alpha, or Delta is probably not selling well now.

The difference here is that they are using Navin Nauth-Misir, Group RA-QA director, to sign this blatant sales document.

I love Appendix 1.

What I love more is https://twitter.com/Larry64450205/status/1463189218788790275
- the Bioinformatics surveillance report, which advises that the report is regularly published, and that regular checks are performed by Novacyt's Bioinformatics team to show that assays are still effective in detecting viruses in samples, regardless of variant.

If they are going to use Navin in this way, they should also be posting the Bioinformatics surveillance report, because no other diagnostics company performs these checks. IT IS COMPLETELY UNIQUE.

As such it should be a corner stone for our sales team on which to outline our USP's* to customers.

The Bioinformatics report development must be expensive to continually republish so often.
Why not get partial payback by using the report as a sales weapon, in the same way as using the group QA directors' signature on a sales document.
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I shall offer this observation to Navin and DA via email, and will advise any response.

* unique selling proposition
A unique selling point (USP), also called a unique selling proposition, is the essence of what makes your product or service better than competitors. In online marketing, communicating your USP clearly and quickly is one of the keys to getting potential customers to convert on your site.

Can't see DA being interested in a DHSC contract, as I believe a Framework agreement might be a more flexible basis for both parties.
After the problems with wording the phase 1 / 2 contract in September 2020, IMO DA will want to avoid the risk of repeating whatever the problem was.

Identifying the presence of the new variant so quickly, and in so many different places means that much much more sequencing is going on in many locations.
That can only be good for SNPsig business surely!

Bluelight -
sp manipulators will be liking three things about Novacyt.
1 there are so few II's.
2 There are so few shares in issue.
3 The open-ended dispute with DHSC means this share cannot get near fair value.

This makes sp movement easy to achieve.
What has happened over the last few days will happen again unless more II's buy, or the DHSC dispute ends (don't care how).

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The share price is currently the ball of wool that the kitten is playing endlessly with.
The fundamentals are not affected, and news of more II's or the dispute ending will assist in stabilising (if not rerating) sp.
Hold.

If we had more II's on board, sp oscillations could not happen to the same extent.
I'm sure DA doesn't need reminding to recruit many more II's.

Sp28 -
I think SOME people have been mugged.

https://twitter.com/DearAuntCrabby/status/1465716553018712068
Ha ha.

Exmex posted this link this morning.

Statement from the South African president yesterday.
https://sacoronavirus.co.za/2021/11/28/statement-by-president-cyril-ramaphosa-on-progress-in-the-national-effort-to-contain-the-covid-19-pandemic-28-nov-2021/

Boris would do well to cut and paste this into his address this afternoon.
Direct delivery of an important message.

Thanks Boris et al.
I'll be joining the queue to top up come Monday morning.

Poidster - Fri 19:28
"Further digging finds that these are not just covid testing centres but opening up the whole of diagnostics away from the acute hospital setting, that said, they will be offering pathology services and its a near patient testing environment which falls right into novacyts remit. This is a £10 billion contract, lots to play for and novacyt must be a contender for this opportunity"

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The following seems relevant to your research:

15.06.2020 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-tests-and-testing-kits-for-coronavirus-covid-19-work/target-product-profile-point-of-care-sars-cov-2-detection-tests

The purpose of a Target Product Profile (TPP)
Target product profiles (TPP) outline the desired ‘profile’ or characteristics of a target product that is aimed at a particular disease or diseases. TPPs state intended use, target populations and other desired attributes of products, including safety and performance-related characteristics. They help guide industry development towards desired characteristics. A TPP provides a common foundation for the development of tests and contains sufficient detail to allow device developers and key stakeholders to understand the characteristics a test must have to be successful for the particular intended use. Included is a description of (1) the preferred and (2) the minimally acceptable profiles based on the intended use, setting of use, and intended user, with respect to the performance and operational characteristics expected of the target products. As new scientific evidence is generated, this TPP may require further review and revision.

Also this 19.06.2021 document:
TARGET PRODUCT PROFILE
In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) self-tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in people without symptoms

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/994793/Self-Test_Virus_Version_1_0_19June2021.pdf

Yes Chas, - the £64,000 question is - does that news trigger another RNS?

9th April 2021: Open = 711p, Close 421p.
If there is a price I would expect the sp to take timeout, it would be around here.

Are we going to see an RNS on EACH occasion a Primerdesign product is CTDA approved?
Why not, - lets see if the arrival of DA makes a little difference or a lot.

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This morning's price action is unsurprising with the worldwide virus and variant news
the way it is, and only 70 Mil shares in issue.

Lets hope WHO doesn't tarry too long over making B.1.1.529 a VOC, or at least a VUI, for everybody's sake.

From : https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/16849417/new-covid-variant-infecting-vaccinated/

This article discusses the new B.1.1.529 'Botswana' variant with 32 mutations.

"The new variant has mutations K417N and E484A that are linked to those in previous strains that were able to dodge vaccines.

**(Please Note K417N detected by SNP-sig assay EscapePLEX)**.

And it also has the N440K, found on Delta, and S477N, on the New York variant, linked to antibody escape.

It also has the mutation N501Y that makes viruses more transmissible and was previously seen on the fast-spreading Alpha variant."

**(Please note N501Y detected by SNP-sig VariPLEX)**.
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So Primerdesign already detects some of B.1.1.529's mutations, but in different SNP-sig assay's.
They might now be developing B.1.1.529 mutation detection in one single new SNP-sig product?

From SKY news, Thursday 25 November 2021 23:22, UK:
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-what-we-know-so-far-about-b-1-1-529-variant-that-may-evade-vaccines-12478865

'The WHO may decide to upgrade it a variant of concern (VOC) - on par with established variants like Delta, meaning it has "global public health significance" - and issue guidance to member countries.

It may also classify it a less serious variant of interest (VOI), which indicates for example that it may affect transmissibility or disease severity.'

So WHO are yet to designate B.1.1.529 it seems.

there are a few

Thanks for the update larry, - the difference is there are few discounts mentioned, so price is now a factor.
Remains to be seen if this is the case in Australia / NZ only or elsewhere now.

Apologies if posted before:
https://primerdesign.co.uk/versalab/

Not mentioned as a Australia / NZ distributor in spreadsheet.

In-Vitro Technologies :

https://diagnostic.invitro.com.au/l/primerdesign/endofyear - product discounts available
https://lifescience.invitro.com.au/l/novacyt/
https://lifescience.invitro.com.au/about-us/ - staffing - many new starts this year

Unclear how long In-Vitro Technologies have been working with Novacyt.

Hit 'Diagnostic' and 'Life Sciences' at top of screen for access to Novacyt products.
This is not a small company, and is ambitious.