Mar 20, 2020 in Diagnostics, Press Releases
COVID-19 Test and Development Programs Update
Vancouver, Canada (March 20, 2020) – XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY) (FSE:4XT) (OTC:XPHYF) (“XPhyto” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce updates to its infectious disease programs, particularly as they relate to the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.
XPhyto’s wholly owned German subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH (“Vektor”), has entered into a binding standstill agreement with a European biotechnology company for development of a low-cost rapid real-time oral pathogen screening platform (the “Platform”). The enzyme-based Platform was designed for species-specific bacterial pathogen detection in humans and will be expanded to include viral pathogen detection capability. No training is required to operate the test. XPhyto, in collaboration with industry and academic partners, aims to develop the Platform for oral detection of specific viral species and species subtypes, including COVID-19. The Company expects to sign a definitive development agreement in due course.
“An accurate, low-cost, rapid decentralized screening test that provides immediate pathogen detection would be a powerful and disruptive tool in the fight against pandemics. Such a tool would allow for testing on a scale that is not currently possible,” said Prof. Dr. Thomas Beckert, Managing Director of Vektor. “Identification and isolation of infected individuals, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, from larger populations is critical to effective pandemic management. The potential applications for an effective screening test would include homes, hospitals, schools, workplaces, transportation services and border services, just to name a few.”
Further to the Company’s operations and expertise in infectious disease, XPhyto’s director, Prof. Dr. Raimar Loebenberg, is reviewing opportunities for therapeutic prevention and treatment of viral lung infections based on clinically validated and published peer-reviewed data. During the coronavirus outbreak in 2009, some natural products were clinically evaluated in comparison to modern conventional anti-viral treatments. In some situations, such as non-life threatening cases, certain natural treatments yielded remarkable results. Prof. Dr. Loebenberg is consulting with hospital pharmacists who are currently using such natural products in the treatment of COVID-19. XPhyto is actively engaged in licencing certain natural therapies for immediate use in Canada.
Prof. Dr. Loebenberg is the Founder and Director of the Drug Development and Innovation Centre, University of Alberta, and is a specialist in pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical therapeutics. He has extensive experience in the treatment of infectious and tropical diseases and has particular expertise in the use of phytopharmaceuticals as effective therapeutic agents. Prof. Dr. Loebenberg is the former President of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences.
“The XPhyto team and its global healthcare network have deep scientific expertise in the study and treatment of infectious disease,” said Hugh Rogers, CEO of XPhyto. “As a Company and as concerned citizens, we are particularly motivated to work on these projects. It is not often that one can participate in the development of truly disruptive technology with a significant near-term positive social impact.”