Diagnostic HYBRIDS Enters into Licensing Agreement for Rapid Detection of hMPV with ViroNovative BV
Athens, OH – Diagnostic HYBRIDS and ViroNovative BV have entered into a worldwide licensing agreement covering immunofluorescence-based diagnostic products for human metapneumovirus (hMPV). The non-exclusive agreement allows Diagnostic HYBRIDS to develop, manufacture, market, sell and distribute hMPV-specific antigen detection products upon receiving appropriate regulatory clearance for use in direct specimen detection and with cell culture.
Human MPV was discovered in 2001 by researchers at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The research team, led by Prof. Dr. Albert Osterhaus, found that this virus often was responsible for respiratory tract infections in children that tested negative for known respiratory viruses. Human MPV infects patients of all ages, but is especially severe in children, the elderly, and patients with compromised immune systems. The virus causes flu-like illness, including cough, nasal congestion and fever. Several clinical reports by multiple investigators worldwide have since confirmed the presence of hMPV in 5-15% of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms.
In addition to the non-exclusive license with ViroNovative BV, Diagnostic HYBRIDS holds exclusive worldwide rights to the unique hMPV-specific monoclonal antibodies developed by the IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy, which react with the four known hMPV subtypes identified by the Rotterdam group. Multiple clinical research posters describing the use of the direct-labeled hMPV reagent in both a direct specimen format and with Diagnostic HYBRIDS’ patented R-Mix™ respiratory virus cell system were presented at the 22nd Clinical Virology Symposium in Clearwater Beach, FL in May 2006.
“The combination of these two technology licenses provides the best solution for the straightforward validation of a cost-effective test for hMPV by clinical virology laboratories worldwide,” said Steve Geimer, vice president of Sales, Marketing and Service at Diagnostic HYBRIDS. “Previously, patients infected with hMPV would have simply been reported as negative for influenza, RSV, adenovirus and parainfluenza, and potentially placed on antibiotics for what really was a viral infection. This respiratory season, clinical laboratories can provide clinicians important information about this newly discovered respiratory virus by using Diagnostic HYBRIDS’ commercial reagent for hMPV,” according to Geimer.
The Mab reagent was recently introduced into the US market as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) under the brand name D3® hMPV and will also be available for non-US markets this upcoming respiratory season. Geimer commented further that “Clinical laboratories that perform high-complexity testing can use the product to develop and validate their in-house testing protocol for hMPV, and non-clinical laboratories focused on anti-viral drug discovery, epidemiology, or academic research will also find value in its use.”
About ViroNovative BV
ViroNovative BV is a spin-out company formed under the new active incubator policy of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and dedicated to providing a complete solution to human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), a virus discovered in 2001 at the Erasmus Medical Center’s Department of Virology. To this end, ViroNovative is developing diagnostics, vaccines and antivirals for the detection, prevention and treatment of hMPV infection. ViroNovative is a member of ViroVentures, a virtual organization whose members share certain resources and expertise to meet their common goal of improving human and animal health, through developing treatments and diagnostics to infectious diseases. For more information, visit www.vironovative.com.
