TB diagnostic agreement for Proteome Systems

Australian biotech Proteome Systems (PXL) has signed a licensing deal with US-based manufacturer BD to develop and commercialise tuberculosis tests.

Under the terms of this agreement, BD will pay PXL upfront fees and milestone payments for the rights to co-develop and market point-of-care diagnostic products for rapid and cost-effective detection of active TB.

"We are delighted to partner with the world leader in TB diagnostic products, initially to fast-track the development of a rapid sputum-based test for active TB," PXL's CEO and managing director, Dr Jenny Harry, said.

"This collaboration aims to deliver a much needed point-of-care test to the developing and developed world markets for the responsible management and treatment of active TB disease."

PXL has demonstrated proof of concept of a diagnostic test that involves identification of a TB specific protein biomarker found in sputum. The program has in part been funded by a R&D START grant from the Australian government and funding from the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).

TB is an opportunistic infection that lies dormant until a person's immune system is weakened, so people with HIV often develop active TB.

Additionally, multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (or XDR-TB) cases are on the increase globally.

Around US$ 1 billion is currently spent on TB diagnostics annually and yet the most widely used method to diagnose active TB, sputum smear microscopy, has not changed substantially in 100 years and is not very sensitive.