Ambri’s SensiDx still on trial

Sydney’s Ambri Technology (ASX:ABI) has announced a net operating loss of $11.4 million for 2004, 35 per cent below last year’s loss of $17.6 million. The company also said earlier this week that its SensiDx ion-channel pregnancy test sensor had yet to meet the full requirements of a commercial viability trial (CVT) in a clinical setting.

Although consistent performance with SensiDx is yet to be achieved, Ambri will proceed to the next phase of commercialising the technology.

The company has been evaluating the system’s performance at two Sydney Hospitals - Royal North Shore and St Vincents – to ensure it meets the company's self-imposed CVT milestones.

CEO Dr Jonathon Wright said while the results from the clinical trials at the two hospitals had equalled or exceeded the CVT’s targets, further modifications are required for a commercial version, and the company now expects to have the test ready for market in May or June next year, about three months later than originally planned.

Wright said the pregnancy test system will serve as a demonstration of the potential of Ambri’s patented ion-channel system (ICS) biosensor technology, which can directly detect and measure the presence of ‘biologics’ including bacteria, viruses, DNA, drugs, enzymes, hormones and ions in blood, plasma, serum or water.

The pregnancy test directly detects and measures human -chorionic gonadotrophin, a serum marker of pregnancy, without the complicated reagents and washing procedures required for conventional antibody-based tests.

The ion channel floats a lipid bilayer on a chip surfaced with a thin conductive layer of gold. When an antibody fragment conjugated to the ion channel detects an hCG molecule, it completes an electrical circuit that registers the detection event.

At 30 June 2004 Ambri had $20 million cash on hand.