RE: After the deluge....24 Nov 2020 12:37
I think much of this is right; I think also frustrations do have a basis in reality, and following on from your posts above, I think Avacta made two strategic mistakes:
- An overarching focus on Saliva from the off: I think this was because its a 'big' challenge that Avacta felt their tech could (and still can) address and that this thinking was propelled by a management team heavily comprised of scientists all up for that challenge. With the benefit of hindsight, I think it would have made better sense from a risk management POV to have worked with A/N swabs from the start to get a quality product to market ASAP, while developing the Saliva version in parallel (effectively what we are now doing).
- Failing to involve a manufacturing partner from the initial design stages to avoid the delays we have seen in Tech Xfer: Cytiva are supplying the strip - which is one several key components - yet have undertaken the bulk of the engineering work on the product. The result, IMO, has been key 'design for manufacture' constraints have been overlooked, so while Cytiva have delivered a functioning prototype, it has proven unsuitable for mass production; issues a partner like BBI would have picked up at the initial design stage. Perhaps it was more of a case that Avacta needed the 'buy-in' of a big player like Cytiva to get in the door with BBI, I guess one day we will find out.
Anyhow, now a manufactured prototype is complete we are over the hill with this area of work - I imagine the newsflow will gather pace rather quickly from this point.
The emphasis on scalability from readily accessible parts was the key takeaway from the RNS for me - it sounds ideal if you are looking to enter global licensing agreement with regional manufacturers.
With another £7 Billion committed to LFT's in the UK yesterday and Biden entering the White House calling for 'mass testing' in January, I think we are very well positioned form this point.
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