EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (AIM: EKF), the AIM listed point-of-care business, welcomes the news from its partner Kantaro Biosciences, LLC (“Kantaro”) yesterday confirming that it had received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-SeroKlir, its semi-quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test kit.

EKF has exclusive rights to market and distribute COVID-SeroKlir, a quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test kit, in the UK and Germany and non-exclusive rights in Europe. The statement from Kantaro is reproduced in full below:

Kantaro Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Semi-Quantitative COVID-19 Antibody Test Kit that Detects the Presence and Level of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies

COVID-SeroKlir is a high-performance semi-quantitative antibody test kit based on Mount Sinai technology, with a broad range of applications in the fight against COVID-19

The Kantaro test is being manufactured at scale and immediately available in the U.S.

NEW YORK, November 24, 2020 — Kantaro Biosciences, LLC, a joint venture between the Mount Sinai Health System and RenalytixAI (NASDAQ: RNLX), has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-SeroKlir, its semi-quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test kit. Unlike other antibody tests, COVID-SeroKlir determines the presence and precise level of IgG antibodies and has a broad range of applications in the fight against COVID-19. Through a commercial partnership with Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) the test kits are being manufactured at scale with a capacity of up to 10 million tests per month and the ability to scale up.

COVID-SeroKlir has demonstrated 98.8% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity for detecting SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies against two virus antigens, the full-length spike protein and its receptor-binding domain. COVID-SeroKlir is a two-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and can be used by any CLIA-certified laboratory without the need for proprietary equipment. The Kantaro test kit received CE mark in October 2020 and is available in 29 countries in Europe. 

"COVID-SeroKlir is based on Mount Sinai technology that was developed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City," said Sara Barrington, Kantaro's chief commercial officer. "It is a high performing test that quantifies antibody levels for individuals, which medical professionals and policymakers alike can trust. Having a numerical understanding of antibody levels can be especially powerful for patients, enabling them to take control of their health and enjoy some peace of mind during these uncertain times." 

Measuring IgG antibody levels with COVID-SeroKlir can inform healthcare decision-making and public health strategies, as well as assess vaccine response. Semi-quantitative antibody testing is also an essential component of a general health check to determine past COVID-19 infections. An increased risk of potentially life-threatening complications, including lung, kidney, and cardiovascular disease, has been linked to COVID-19.

"Widespread testing is critical in the fight against COVID-19. With this EUA in hand, we are ready to immediately supply this best-in-class serologic assay to clinicians across the U.S.," said Chuck Kummeth, president and chief executive officer of Bio-Techne Corporation."Manufacturing will begin with a capacity of up to 10 million tests per month. We anticipate that COVID-SeroKlir will play an increasingly important role in the decision making of healthcare providers and policymakers and are prepared to scale up to meet additional demand."

Mount Sinai developed the underlying technology in COVID-SeroKlir, which has been used and validated in a highly diverse population of over 80,000 patient samples. The peer-reviewed journal Science recently published five-month data from an ongoing Mount Sinai study using the underlying technology. Data show that most people who have had COVID-19 mount a robust antibody response that remains relatively stable for at least five months following infection. This antibody response correlates with the body's ability to neutralize SARS-CoV-2.

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