George Frangeskides, Chairman at ALBA, explains why the Pilbara Lithium option ‘was too good to miss’. Watch the video here.
The big thing for point one, RichKen, is that affimers (engineered at the business end to fulfil the desired function) have not been given to humans before. For neutralising therapy they would need to be given intravenously, ie directly by infusion into the blood stream. So slow-but-sure careful clinical studies (phase 1 to phase 111) needed.
For sure I'm not saying it can't be done - but it would not happen overnight, even with GSK or AZN
The British Society of immunology webinars on covid-19 are free to watch. They are useful if you want to keep up with the latest clinical science on various Covid topics and on the latest published research.
The last one broadcast can now be viewed online - "Current controversy in immunity to COVID-19 do we want an immune response or not?"
https://www.immunology.org/coronavirus/connect-coronavirus-webinars/bsi-webinar-controversy-in-immunity-covid-19-do-we-want
All their previous covid-19 webinars are on their website -
https://www.immunology.org/
There is another one to be broadcast today - 12.30-1.15pm -
"Antiviral responses in COVID-19" by Prof Paul Klenerman
See - https://Immunology.org/Coronavirus/connect-coronavirus-webinars
You need to register (free) in good time to get the webinar link.
They are well produced and presented. I am not a member of the BSI but I do find them interesting & they offer a lot of useful background information
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/frontline-doctor-says-been-new-18348559
"It could be a blip, but it could be the start of a new surge".
A couple of articles in the Health Services Journal today. Covid-19 pieces are still free to view without a subscription (I think), if you are interested.
1. "Decline in North West covid deaths slows dramatically". (today)
2. "NHS ordered to rush out ‘meaningless’ covid antibody tests ahead of PM’s deadline". (May 29).
Interesting to note that Avacta feature prominently in this independent report -"Global central nervous biomarkers market analysis - 2020-2025"https://coleofduty.com/military-news/2020/05/31/global-central-nervous-system-biomarkers-market-analysis-2020-2025-by-key-players-with-countries-type-application-and-forecast-till-2025-abiant-inc-avacta-group-plc-diagenic-asa-banyan-"Top Key players cited in the report: Thermo Fisher ScientificMerck & CoAbaStar MDx IncAbiant, IncAvacta Group PlcDiagenic AsaBanyan BiomarkersAvid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc"I've not seen the report - I imagine it's quite pricey.
Thank you, shockxxx !!!!!
Great story that !
Well done Andrew West !
Wonderful publicity for AVCT !
Are we all about to do the same %-age wise with our own holdings in AVCT ? !
It seems more likely than ever, eh ? !
"The firm’s virus test looks set to go into mass production.
Its scientists also found chemicals in the test block the bug." !!
Lovin' it !!!!
If you're interested in following this aspect, one useful resource is the "Covid-19 Resource Centre" made freely available by The Lancet. All covid-19 stuff published by them and their sister journals.
https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20
I've watched several webinars on Coronavirus in recent weeks from the British Society for Immunology, and the Royal College of Pathology.
In one of these (and I can't recall which I'm afraid) a paper was presented showing that 40% of surfaces with which asymptomatic carriers came into contact became contaminated with covid-19. This included some carriers who never developed the disease.
I'll post a link if I can find it.
I immediately thought of my Avacta investment!
I think success is all going to come down to the senstivity of our affimer-based test when incorporated into the slide membrane. If it's in the high 90's %-age -wise we're home and dry. If not it's going to be a struggle.
That implies a really low LoD with a high avidity displayed by the affimer(s) used.
Is there any hard data on sensitivity in the public domaine?
I see Myles in his latest treatise (update 111, part I) talks of the Avacta test achieving "an even higher level of sensitivity....".
Do we have an actual %-age number mentioned anywhere yet?
Or is that what is coming in an imminent RNS?
Thanks RorkesD !- yes, I'm a fellow of the RCPath and up to speed with that. I agree immunology is developing apace these days - so many diseases and their pathologies seem to be related to issues with immunology, including conditions which hitherto there was no suspicion before.
A good speciality for an aspiring biological scientist or young medic to get into! I wish!!
The British Society of Immunology (BSI) is running a series of excellent webinars about various aspects of Covid-19. These are free to BSI members and are also freely available to interested members of the public.
As an AVCT investor (and also for any other investment) I'm always aware that decisions about my holding - adding to, part selling, or total sell - are much better informed the more I know about the area in which the company operates.
I regard these webinars as part of that. They do require a level of knowledge to follow them in their entirety (I get a bit lost at times), and they will not be everybody's cup of tea for sure!
I've watch several webinars so far and find them incredibly interesting. Ones that have already taken place are available to watch via the BSI website, and the programme for future webinars is also listed. They have been approximately weekly recently.
See : https://www.immunology.org/events
The one today was "Controversy in immunity to COVID-19 : do we want an immune response or not?".
I enjoyed it! Discussion by 2 experts from Imperial College reviewing very recent papers from all over the world, and chat about viral load, "the dangers of antibody enhancement" (implications for use of convalescent plasma, and also for vaccinations), re-infection .... and much more,
Today's webinar will be posted on the BSI website in a couple of days.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11716400/million-coronavirus-tests-day-every-household-monthly/
https://www.fr24news.com/a/2020/05/britain-could-soon-run-million-coronavirus-tests-every-day.html
Did Robert Peston highlight this in the Express a few weeks ago as well?
I never set a stop-loss with a broker which shows on the order book; especially for smaller stocks as you will find that the MM will take your stock from you as they simply lower the price just to capture that trade. This has happened to me and I speak from bitter experience.
"Stop-profits" are a different matter. That is you decide to sell at a profit for 250p - the stock is currently 205p. If the stock goes to 250p it will be taken from you, and everybody's happy.
If I do need to have a stop-loss I simply use a big black horizontal line on my SP chart! Second-best perhaps as there is still any personal psychology to deal with!!
Thank you Canute40 for your reply. As it happens, I am familiar with LFD's and the use of buffer solutions to prepare samples before using the device. I was just interested to learn about how saliva is used - directly, or with a buffer, or what?
I have no experience with the use of saliva as a medium, but it seems at first sight that the characteristics of saliva may vary quite markedly from person-to-person, and certainly more so than urine (eg preg tests) or with serum/plasma/whole blood (many LFTs).
Of course, Cytiva may have already done the necessary work in this respect already. We can safely leave it to them I trust. I just hope that whatever is required does not add to the complexity of test use, and detract in any way from its end-user appeal or from easy passage through the FDA or CE-marking approval.
There are many types of these devices available commercially.
Reference is made to "the technique and collection device(s) used to obtain the clinical sample" in the "Antigen Template for Manufacturers" document which has to completed and included with submissions to the FDA. Any submission will have to include details of sample collection.
Does anybody know how saliva will get on to the relevant part of the Avacta/Cytiva lateral flow device?
Does the user simply dribble a bit of spit on it, aiming very carefully?
Or get some saliva into a glass, and "pour" a drop on to the slide?
Or use a dedicated device? If that, would the device be supplied with the slide?
Or if the slide is sterlised, and seal-wrapped, could the user open it and say put the sample end of the slide under the tongue for say 20 seconds?
I don't know the answer - but I am curious to find out what the real options are?
Ease of use is obviously important commercially speaking, and is of considerable relevance to regulatory authorities for POC end-user tests.
KingKitega - I anticipate now that we will have little difficulty in meeting the FDA sensitivity requirements, as you indeed imply.
I note with interest the FDA refer to PCR as the "golden standard" against which other antigen tests should be compared.
Could affimer- based tests be even more sensitive at the lowest limits? !!
That could appear at first sight in the stats as a false-positive for the affimer test.
Intriguing.