The next focusIR Investor Webinar takes places on 14th May with guest speakers from Blue Whale Growth Fund, Taseko Mines, Kavango Resources and CQS Natural Resources fund. Please register here.
Perhaps it’s just semantics but the excerpt from today’s tweet below doesn’t tell me that are close to an approved test, words like ‘preparing’ and ‘first’ don’t suggest we close to concluding the process.
We are preparing for the first clinical evaluation of the rapid antigen test and will update the market fully when that study begins.’
I remain fully invested and supportive but I must admit when I read the tweet below my first thought was that it sounded like a cut and paste of the message we were given several months ago.
Like many, I was relieved to hear a positive message but would’ve preferred a more substantive update as opposed to what could be described as a woolly platitude.
To me, it doesn’t sound like we are close to bulk production just yet. Will this prove to be a problem? Probably not if our test is as good as suggested and it has been reiterated several times that we will sell all we can make so we can perhaps take solace from that.
In the absence of a detailed RNS compounded by omission from tomorrow’s list of 6, I feel will see the SP continue to bounce around at current levels.
‘We continue to make very good progress with a rapid antigen test and with the laboratory based mass spectrometry test. We are preparing for the first clinical evaluation of the rapid antigen test and will update the market fully when that study begins.’
There’s no doubt that the Biden victory is significant for AVCT and all test manufacturers.
The USA now has a president that not only recognises that covid is real and something that can’t be cured with bleach injections.
Biden also seems to acknowledge that testing is the way out and with a population of circa 360 mil, America will require a vast amount of tests.
Biden won the presidency on the covid ticket and his legacy will be determined on how effectively he brings it under control.
Bit defensive there JRDC, is the pressure getting to you? Not many in the political and scientific community talking up a long term future of PCR testing at the mo. Seems to me that PCR is a necessary evil that will be binned just as soon as a replacement can be found. You would be brave man to assume that test won't be along sooner rather than later.
Suggest if NCYT want to buy AVCT they do it sharpish as I feel they will be passing each other in opposite directions v soon.
We had a thread on this a couple of days ago and from memory, John Bell said they had created a short list of 6 tests with 'good potential' down from 70 'applicants'
Several well informed posters came up with a consensus of who the 6 tests belonged to and no surprise, AVCT were one of them.
Sleepy
It’s very commendable to win the early sprint stages of the race.
Much more important to be wearing the yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees in 3 weeks time.
Apologies if this has been posted already.
Interesting perspectives from Mr Deeks and Mr Bell
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54826403
It's easy to accuse the government of incompetence, cronyism etc but what is clear they are desperate for a solution and it would appear they are prepared to throw money at and undertake trials of almost any test that is presented to them regardless of performance.
To be polite, success levels so far have been sketchy, to be blunt, it's been a complete ****show. Salford, Redcar (anyone any idea what's going on there?) and now Liverpool...and I don't think Zara Tindall is going to rescue the situation either !!
As Timster has pointed out twice this morning already, we are the only test that has Affimers and cream always rises to the top.
So, relax, grab your mask, get down to your local pub for a weekend takeaway and let Al and the team pull Boris out of the brown stuff.
The test will be ready when its ready and I think we should all thank our lucky stars that we have not been involved in the trials so far because the companies that have are likely to suffer reputational damage.
Abdalian
A vaccine will also face the same uptake issues. As John Bell suggested, being tested (and subsequently being vaccinated) has to be associated with a positive outcome.
Have a test and you can go to the football, on holiday, see your friends etc etc.
As if we haven’t had enough good news this week already
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54799377
Most important take away for me from JBs comments were the ones relating to the psychology of promoting a negative test result as an opportunity to live normally.
There is a huge PR job required to encourage people that being tested is a good thing that will allow you to do the things that you want to do.
Currently, there is considerable confusion and reluctance to be tested due to the fear of a positive result and the inconvenience/loss of livelihood that accompanies it.
We also need a massive education drive as some of the comments on the Nadine Dorris post are scarily stupid... eg..
‘Why would you test people who have no symptoms of any illness? That doesn't make sense.’
Errrm.... using that logic, you wouldn’t inoculate anyone without symptoms either would you ??
Agreed a step to far... we need a convoy, cmon lads and lasses, grab your buckets and wheelbarrows and let’s get down there sharpish. They need our help !!!
Thanks for the chart bit sportstrader, still not much clearer but hey ho, I’m as thick as mince.
If Boris is waffling, he’s backing himself into a massive corner, every time he mentions a snippet of info, UK made, home test, 15mins etc there’s probably only a handful of people in the uk (this BB and AVCT management) who are able to join the dots.
And like Hansel and Gretle the breadcrumbs are all leading to Wetherby
I have no idea what all that means SportsTrader but I like the sound of it. Would be grateful for an explanation if you can be @rsed !!!
Is it April 1st ?
With the latest lockdown plan I feel that Boris has inadvertently given AVCT more time to perfect their test.
It was clear that the 3 Tier system wasn’t working and a lockdown was probably inevitable. However to do this without students is madness IMO.
You don’t need Patrick Valance’ heat map to see which demographic is instigating the spread.
You only need to understand that it was no mystery that the second wave coincided with schools and universities returning and that the hot spots were university cities like Liverpool, Nottingham, Newcastle & Manchester.
There is scant evidence that hospitality, travel and retail are major contributors yet as Patrick V pointed out on Saturday there is significant evidence that students are the most infected and hence leading the spread.
So what does Boris do? Closes the pubs and shops and lets the students crack on.
Open up again in Dec and we will be back here again by Feb.
Loads of time for AVCT to perfect their test... unfortunately.
Whatever he mentions he’s unlikely to mention AVCT.
It’s like we are invested in the invisible pharma company.
I think there is a Basil Fawltyesque conspiracy with HMG and the press not to mention us.
‘Don’t mention Avacta... I mentioned them earlier but I think I got away with it ‘ !!!
Perhaps someone should tell Sarah Boseley (Guardian health editor) that perhaps Boris wasn’t referring to the Innova test.
Don’t be fooled PL it’s not MF it’s actually RichKen, he’s developed the Terminator 2 ability to assume the appearance of anything he touches !!!
I’d take any stats issued by the Chinese with a pinch of salt. I have no evidence but totalitarian states do have a well founded reputation for managing information particularly if it shows them in a good light when compared to their ‘competitors’ EU and the USA. For the same reason I wouldn’t trust data released by Putin.
Regarding supply from a Xiamen based manufacturer, I’d be utterly amazed if anyone at HMG is prepared to gamble with something so important on a Chinese import, even if this is being wholesaled and managed by Innova.
I have imported goods from China for over 20 years and whilst I have no experience in the pharma sector I do know that reliability and consistency can be huge challenges.
It’s true that the Chinese have sufficient labour availability and likely price advantages but on something so critical and something that the Chinese state could interfere with should they desire, I would be amazed if Boris was prepared to risk anything more than a trial at this stage.
It has to be sovereign supply for reliability and national security.