UQ start-up attracts investment to develop meningitis diagnostic

The University of Queensland's start-up, RapiSure Pty Ltd has secured its first round of investment from life sciences venture capital company, Symbiosis Group Ltd.

The company was formed to commercialise a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic test for meningococcal disease.

The test will be developed by Professor Michael Jennings from UQ's Biological and Chemical Sciences Faculty.

Also known as bacterial meningitis, meningococcal disease affects about 120,000 people worldwide each year, with children under two years of age particularly vulnerable. However, the potential market opportunities for a test kit are substantial. While rapid diagnosis and treatment can be vital to prevent death, the disease is notoriously difficult to distinguish from other respiratory infections.

Rapisure was established by UniQuest, UQ's main commercialisation company.

UniQuest managing director, David Henderson said that if RapiSure's diagnostic test development was successful it would be the first of its kind in the world, requiring only a pinprick of the patient's blood.

"RapiSure is designing its rapid diagnostic test for use by doctors in surgeries and hospitals to allow immediate treatment to be administered," said Henderson.

"The investment from Symbiosis Group should allow RapiSure to develop a prototype by early 2007 with prototype production and clinical validation continuing into 2007."

The test could be on the market in less than three years.