Apr 22, 2020 in Diagnostics, Press Releases
Infectious Disease Oral Dissolvable Biosensor Development
Vancouver, Canada (April 22, 2020) – XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY / FSE:4XT / OTC:XPHYF) (“XPhyto” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that further to its press release on April 20, 2020, regarding a definitive development, technology purchase and licence agreement (the “Agreement”) with 3a-Diagnostics GmbH (“3a”), XPhyto’s wholly owned German subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH (“Vektor”), has taken delivery of certain pathogen-specific peptide biosensors from 3a for the purpose of adapting them for use with Vektor’s oral dissolvable thin film (“ODF”) platform.
The Agreement established a framework for research, development and commercialization through adaption of 3a’s pathogen-specific biosensors to Vektor’s ODF platform, development of a highthroughput peptide screening platform to facilitate rapid identification of new biosensor targets for future pandemic threats, and development of an ODF COVID-19 screening test.
Vektor has received peptide biosensors from 3a in order to commence development work immediately. The strategy for technical development which entails adaption of these biosensors to Vektor’s ODF platform is expected to occur in several stages over a period of approximately 30 days:
- Formulation development for dissolution of peptide biosensor conjugate
- Application of formula to ODF (oral thin films)
- Analytical evaluation of ODF physical and chemical properties
a. Macroscopic and microscopic appearance
b. Residual liquid
c. Disintegration
d. Weight, thickness, elasticity and elongation
e. Degradation/stability profile
f. Interactive study (films, packaging, excipients)
During this period, Vektor will also initiate strategic planning for small-scale EU GMP testmanufacturing which is expected to begin for trial purposes pending successful technical development of ODF biosensors for some or all of 3a’s existing portfolio indications: stomatitis, periimplantitis, periodontitis, scarlet fever, and influenza.
“We are very pleased to move so quickly from signing the Agreement to product development work,” said Prof. Dr. Thomas Beckert, Managing Director of Vektor. “The XPhyto team shares 3a’s vision of developing screening tools for rapid, low-cost and easy to self-administer detection of pathogens to manage infectious diseases on a population scale.”