Oxford Nanopore agrees new diagnostic partnership with bioMérieux

Published by

Sam Pither

Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, which develops molecular sensing technology based on nanopores, has announced it will develop new infectious disease diagnostics under a new partnership with bioMérieux.

Together, the two companies will explore selected opportunities to advance patient care by providing access to nanopore-based clinical research and in vitro diagnostic (IVD) solutions.

Nanopore-based sequencing is a novel technology that enables analysis of long DNA or RNA fragments. It works by monitoring changes to an electrical current as nucleic acids are passed through a protein nanopore. The resulting signal is decoded to provide the specific DNA or RNA sequence.

The technology offers data in real-time, making it useful for rapid and cost-effective pathogen characterisation in clinical samples.

Initial areas of collaboration will include a test for determining antibiotic resistance of tuberculosis; an assay to identify pathogens in normally sterile clinical samples; and validating Oxford Nanopore's sequencing platform with BIOMÉRIEUX EPISEQ® CS application for rapid infection outbreak monitoring in patient-care settings.

Gordon Sanghera, Oxford Nanopore Technologies Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are pleased to partner with bioMérieux's IVD expertise to add powerful new tools for the fight against infectious disease. By offering rapid and accurate identification of pathogens and associated antimicrobial resistance, at scale, we hope to better equip the specialists for whom speed and access to comprehensive data is key."

Alexandre Mérieux, bioMérieux Chairman and CEO, said: "We are excited to enter into a research partnership with Oxford Nanopore in the field of infectious diseases. New technologies such as sequencing hold promise to improve diagnostics and patient care; our teams will collaborate in this direction."

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.