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I can see testing before flying becoming as routine as checking for liquids/weapons etc.
I expect a system whereby you receive a quick LFT at the airport, if you test positive it's a follow up PCR/BAMS test onsite, if positive again, you and your family are going home to isolate.
To be able to complete this process pre-flight the standard arrival time will need to be extended perhaps to 3-4 hours.
The airports will be happy with this as it provides the opportunity to extend the amount of dwell time in the retail space and it is well documented that some of the most lucrative retail space on earth is within Airport departure zones (T5 Heathrow is regularly the #1 retail return per sqft)
The biggest challenge as I see it is the return journey, what happens for example, if a family returning from a holiday to Tenerife turn up for their journey home to find that one child tests positive?
Oke thanks for the input
If I understand you correctly, assuming Affimers work, then the AVCT test should be able to detect the spike protein across a broader section of viral load? If correct, then surely this is a key advantage over Innova et al?
I wouldn’t have thought £20 million would go very far across the whole industry. Might fund everyone a new coffee machine.
DOH I have also wondered at what point does the test become a BBI test and not an AVCT test.
Yes it’s clear that AVCT own the IP to the magic recipe but AL could be forgiven for handing over all the manufacturing/supply grief to BBI in return for a royalty/exclusivity agreement.
For what it’s worth, I think Cytiva were initially a key supplier of the nitrocellulose strip which at the time was probably a critical component which has subsequently become more readily available. I suspect BBI have told AL that they are able to source this and s thus no need for convoluted agreements with Cytiva.
On another subject, with the odd exception (Ajok & Wolves) the BB this morning has been at its very best, lots of opinions, theories, facts and thoughtful discussion, well done to all contributors.
Please don’t get too excited about the 140k share buy at lunchtime yesterday, that was mine.
I can’t claim any ‘Tiger 16’ insider knowledge. I’m just a firm believer who switched some funds from gold bullion into a long term SIPP. Not seeking a return from that until the therapeutic opportunity is fully realised.
I’ve yet read anywhere the production capacity of BBI?
Regardless of what proportion of the tender we are (or are not) able to secure it is surely constrained by the capacity of BBI, or perhaps more critically the availability of key components eg swabs.
Lots of debate on the tender itself, very little on our ability to deliver.
I think Al should put Ophidian in charge of PR, he's done more to settle PI nerves than any PR company could.
On the subject of Al and comms I do think we should cut him some slack. We must remember he's almost certainly a scientist at heart and probably never happier than when he is in the lab wearing his white coat.
Like Jobs, Zuckerberg and many others before him he is probably only really interested in the product and the science. Money and needy PI's are probably a long way down his priority list.
Just home so not had chance to catch up on all todays chat, apologies if the following has been mentioned but;
Delighted to see Affimers mentioned by name (HMG may as well have just said Avacta)
I think it was benben that said yesterday that by moving to a nasal swab we now have a 'standard' test format that enable's consistent communication and conformity of process (critical if you want successful mass population uptake)
I think it also important to consider the amount of revenue that the exchequer can reclaim by awarding the tender to a 'sovereign' supplier as opposed to an offshore supplier like Innova... this would constitute income tax for BBI/Avct employees, corporation tax, VAT etc etc all of which would constitute a nice rebate for Boris and Rishi and certainly make it worthwhile to delay the tender for a few weeks??
We’d have all preferred an RNS with specific details of approvals and contracts however in the absence of that this is the best we could have hoped for.
All on track albeit taking longer than we’d hoped. If the delays are required to get things right then I don’t have a problem with that.
All very reassuring
Completely agree Scardey, incredibly exciting to be invested in a company that has the potential to improve the lives of countless people.
Continuing your horse racing analogy and not wishing to be negative but I do think we have to be prepared to accept that not all projects are going to get across the line unscathed.
We know that competitor products are being developed, we know that manufacturing capacity and TTx is a concern and we also know that we have yet to achieve full validation or receive contracts for any of our tests.
Having said, that I fully believe that we will deliver, with any one of the opportunities listed in your post seeing the SP increase significantly. Deliver of any multiples of the opportunities would definitely see the SP off to the races !!!
More than a bird in the hand but less than two in a bush
Permission granted definitely an example of when the remix is better than the original !!
How Big, how Blue, how Beautiful - Florence and the Machine
Rich Ken got his winter coat out for the first time and found a few hundred k in the pocket so had a cheeky top up !!
Easyjet CEO appears to support Heathrow CEO in requirement for ongoing testing
Chief executive Johan Lundgren told BBC Radio 4's Today programme said that the recent developments on Covid vaccines "certainly is good news, because we know that is going to be a very critical part of the recovery".
"But I don't think it's only about the vaccine, I think it's also about the fact that we need to have testing in place, we need to have also refined development of the quarantine system," he added.
Innova are quicker to market because they are supplied by a large established Chinese manufacturer, Innova themselves add almost zero value to the product and for HMG to refer to the test as American is deceitful at best.
I have no doubt that the Chinese will be able to ramp up production quicker than any UK based company and they will almost certainly be cheaper.
It appears that their initial production has issues but the $64,000 question is how quickly are they able to address these issues and make the required technical improvements.?
Like most, I was bewildered that our SP took such a hit based on the assumption that the Pfizer vaccine would render our tests redundant, particularly galling as we come to realise that many questions remain regarding the veracity of the Pfizer vaccine.
I posted earlier that both testing and a vaccine are mutually symbiotic and the inevitable introduction of further vaccines should be good news for testing companies.
Consider:
Vaccines - Elderly and vulnerable, most at risk of serious illness. Almost certainly not responsible for the virus spread. Vaccinate them first to enable the economy to reopen.
Testing - Young and typically asymptotic. Almost certainly responsible for the spread of CV19. Use testing to reopen work, sport, pubs etc
Apply the two technologies side by side targeted at the relevant population demographics and we might get this thing under control.
The Cruise industry has already introduced protocols that will be rolled out once reliable testing is available.
MSC Grandiosa has been operating in the med for the last couple of months. The itinerary is restricted to countries that have reciprocal quarantine agreements with Italy. The passengers are currently all from the same country (Italy) and excursions are controlled to ensure that passengers remain within a ‘bubble’ and no internal cabins are used.
Catering is table service only with self serve buffets no longer used.
Despite what some might consider restrictive practices the uptake has been very high with the vast majority of passenger scheduled to sail with MSC in 2020 have happily transferring their Cruises to 2021.
As ‘One Knows’ has pointed out, cruising is incredibly popular (and was growing exponentially) and engenders great loyalty from customers.
Accurate, cheap testing supported by a roll out of vaccines will see cruising ( and the flights required to get passengers to ports) return during the next couple of years in my opinion.
Elon Musk, is an attention seeker.
Like Donald Trump and his claimed election fraud, until he produces evidence this is just another 'look at me' story
It’s very good news for Avacta because if AH are raising funds to expand production of LFT tests then this will enable HMG to buy more sovereign (British made) tests.
It’s not good news for AVCT competitors like Innova.