Italy's DiaSorin has been tasked with developing new tests to identify infections caused by the Zika virus. This was established by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (Barda), a federal body of the US Department of Health, which is responsible for monitoring and identifying medical and diagnostic solutions to deal with potential health emergencies in the United States. The contract is worth $2,6 million.
“We are thrilled to have obtained this important contract which confirms our experience of over 40 years in the development and commercialization of immunodiagnostic tests for infectivity – commented John Walter, president of DiaSorin Inc, the American subsidiary of the Italian group -. Our strong legacy in the infectious disease industry will enable DiaSorin to rapidly deliver a very high-value test to laboratories, reducing their current heavy workload resulting from the Zika-induced public health emergency.”
DiaSorin intends to “develop a fully automated solution capable of detecting Zika infections in the laboratory”.
Barda is developing several tests for diagnosing Zika, with the goal of increasing their availability and potentially reducing their costs for patients. The project will be funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services.
