Member Info for RegulatorUK

"Avct up 10%?? Possibly something with the airport testing news that’s imminent?"

They'd need to actually have a test for that...

"https://twitter.com/GreatGameIndia/status/1329069368706297856

I know this has been raised yesterday, but just an article."

It's not true. Simples!

"What still annoys me is the UK Gov are claiming credit for growing a world class diagnostics industry,"

What annoys me even more is that they're talking about *creating* a world class diagnostics industry. FFS, we already have one (as you say mainly built with private money)... it just demonstrates how little this government knows about the economy that it is supposedly shepherding.

And come 1 January 2021, our world class diagnostics industry is going to get kicked in the nuts...

"it doesnt say that regs"

If you look at the actual tender documents, it does.

The bidstats site doesn't give you all the relevant information - it's only a brief summary.

This is a tender for the supply of kits for lab-based testing.

Sorry - that should read "...any vaccine has the potential *to* produce different levels of immune response in different people..."

"Regulator

Have you read anywhere that the vaccine might give varied immune responses in different people?

Can you see a scenario where if someone vaccinated has the sniffles / cough, then their GP would at the first instance ask them to do an Antibody test?"

Which vaccine?

The simple answer is that any vaccine has the potential produce different levels of immune response in different people, and in particular in differing age groups. This is partly why you will often see vaccine effectiveness data classified by age group.

I know lots of people are assuming all sorts of things about pre- and post-vaccination testing (sometimes based on little more than wishful thinking or misunderstanding media reports) but - and I think we have to be absolutely clear about this - until the clinical trials for any particular vaccine are finished we are unlikely to know exactly what testing protocols will apply to that particular vaccine.

So although there is a clear indication, for example, that the AbC19 test is optimised in relation to the Oxford/AZ vaccine until those trials are complete I don't believe we will know exactly what any supporting testing protocol will be - and it may vary for different groups.

"2) Good Law project litigation issues - to sue the gov regarding contract allocation. Will be interesting to see how this how this pans out"

As I've said previously, I don't think this JR is the strongest case. I think there are arguments for the actions DHSC took in relation to Abingdon/UK-RTC. I think there are other cases which are far more open and shut. My concern is the potential for 'guilt by association'.

"3) If no MHRA approval = gov will cancel orders as per the consortium contract. Orders may not be as high as anticipated."

My understanding is that MHRA approval is only required in relation to one particular aspect of the proposed used of the AbC19 tests. MHRA refusal (which I think unlikely) would not necessarily prevent the DHSC from using the tests for the other testing strands.

And if there is a reduction in demand from DHSC, that just open up the potential for the test to be sold to third parties (don't forget it's already CE marked for professional POC use). It would be difficult for DHSC to withhold consent to third party sales it is not taking the full production capacity. Third party sales would generate greater income than sales to the UK government!

"In terms of potential uses (their wording) for the RTC test, it's listed as including surveillance testing, immunity certification, longitudinal population studies and potentially a companion diagnostic for vaccine effectiveness checks."

So basically Pillars 2, 3 and 4.

" Therefore it's fair to assume that no RTC tests can be sold by anyone that is currently advertising them, be they in the UK or USA or anywhere."

I think that's a point worth reiterating, as some people tend to run off chasing red herrings (if I may be so bold as to mix my metaphors).

We know that antibody testing will be part of the roll out of the Oxford/AZ vaccine (which has been developed with public funds and which is potentially going to be the first vaccine available at scale in the UK) and that the AbC19 test (which again has been developed with public funds) has been optimised to work with the Oxford/AZ vaccine.

There are other antibody tests available, but these are primarily lab-based immunoassays, requiring specialist equipment. The advantage of the AbC19 test is that it is a POC LFT.

As I've said previously, I don't believe that DHSC will give consent to third party sales until it can be satisfied that it will have sufficient capacity to underpin the roll out of the Oxford/AZ vaccine ... although it might allow the US government to buy some to make up for Boris; comments about the incoming administration (and it may need to be flexible with the EU post-1 January 2021).

"From ADVFN
still clearing sellers - L&G, Sneller, Sneller's charities noticed that the £912m tender was updated today to extend deadline to next Wednesday hTTps://bidstats.uk/tenders/2020/W46/738590726 wonder if that is to allow MHRA approval to be given (which means it's coming within a week"

This is a time limited tender for antigen tests - not antibody tests.

"Was the MOU not replaced by the UK RTC contract RNS 19/10"

Yes, it was. All transparent and above board.

Just to be clear, the Mologic tie in on the development of a Covid test with the Pasteur Institute has been a matter of public record since at least March. It's part of the UK governments involvement in the WHO ACT programme. There's a press release here about it for example: https://mologic.co.uk/mologic-awarded-c-1-million-by-uk-government-to-develop-rapid-diagnostic-test-for-covid-19/

It is entirely separate to Mologic's work with ODX.

"We should get an RNS about this very soon."

There's no need for an RNS, as this doesn't - as far as I am aware - materially impact ODX.

Mologic have been working with the Pasteur Institute to develop/refine a test that will be produced by the Pasteur Institute/DiaTropix, in Senegal.

I believe those are going to be made in Senegal by the Pasteur Institute/DiaTropix, rather than in the UK by ODX.

Personally, I think ODX is *the* medium to long term share.

Forget those banging on about their ‘research’ or the latest tweet they’ve found - look at the fundamentals. Look at the portfolio. Understand the basics of the science.

And forget about your investment for six months to a year...

"I can't even get a Flu jab at the mo."

I got one through work, as neither the GP practice nor the local pharmacies had any stock. NHS winter pressures could be fun this year...

"Matt Han**** says Britain is 'working closely' with Pfizer to roll out the firm's breakthrough Covid-19 vaccine as soon as December 1

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8952957/Britain-expects-roll-Pfizers-COVID-19-vaccine-Christmas.html"

And if you watched the Downing Street briefing last night, Hattie Manc*ck repeatedly said that the December date was the "theoretical first date" the vaccine could be rolled out, subject to it completing the relevant clinical studies, but - and this is very important - he also repeatedly said he did not expect the roll out of the vaccine to 'ramp up' (the government's favourite phrase) until the end of Q1 next year.

BTW, the Daily Wail is not a reliable source.

"make that a bag of salted popcorn ;) "

Can I suggest a nice bottle of wine to go with that? A Pouilly-Fuissé perhaps?

"once everyone is vaccinated, there will be no need for more tests...By Easter was mentioned."

That's not how this sort of thing works, as testing will be part of the vaccination process... and there's no way everyone will be vaccinated by Easter. It's not just people in the UK who will need to be vaccinated. You will need to get sufficient herd immunity (and I'm using this terms in the correct context) across the world before you will be able to scale back testing to any great extent.