Gemina Laboratories and ReadyGo Diagnostics Achieve Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Diagnosis in Saliva

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Gemina Laboratories Ltd. (CSE:GLAB)(FRA:8I7), a specialist in fast, affordable, and accurate diagnostic tests, is delighted to announce significant technical results from its collaboration with ReadyGo Diagnostics Ltd. ("ReadyGo"), an isothermal molecular diagnostics developer based in Bath, UK. This represents the first step of Gemina's move into molecular diagnostics adding further diagnostic capability to compliment our lateral flow programme.

Resulting from a collaboration which began in January 2023, Gemina and ReadyGo are proud to announce the successful feasibility of detecting Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ("MTB") in a saliva matrix using the ReadyGo GEO platform. This breakthrough in MTB detection paves the way for affordable testing which will have the potential to significantly impact MTB eradication efforts in countries such as India, Indonesia, and other affected regions worldwide.

The feasibility of utilizing saliva as a sample for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through a molecular diagnostic test has been successfully demonstrated.

MTB, commonly referred to as "Tuberculosis", is a highly infectious airborne disease caused by bacteria that affects the lungs, and was responsible for more than 10 million global infections in 2021, causing 1.6 million deaths. Alarmingly, an estimated 4 million infections (2 out of every 5 cases) remain undiagnosed and untreated, hampering disease control efforts. Diagnosis in low- to middle-income countries, where MTB is most prevalent, typically relies on smear microscopy using sputum samples. However, these tests have significant limitations, particularly in remote areas and when diagnosing certain patient populations such as children and the elderly, who struggle to produce sputum.

Consequently, the diagnosis of MTB presents a serious and complex healthcare challenge. The World Health Organisation has recommended the use of molecular diagnostic tests that can accommodate alternative sample types like saliva, thereby enhancing testing accessibility.

The Gemina and ReadyGo partnership will now progress to full product development, utilizing the GEO platform. The aim is to launch an MTB Screening Test in 2024, capable of replacing smear microscopy with a straightforward saliva sample. This innovative solution will provide results within 30 minutes, anywhere, at an affordable cost. Following the successful feasibility stage, the team anticipates introducing a compact laboratory instrument retailing for less than $1000, with a per-test cost of $5, enabling field testing near patients.

"I'm delighted to be seeing such significant results, so quickly, from our partnership with ReadyGo Diagnostics," stated Brian Firth, CEO of Gemina. "Our focus is developing better diagnostics that are not only highly effective, but affordable and deployable anywhere at any time, and our goal with ReadyGo was to create better diagnostic tests for managing patients with tuberculosis. The fact that we have proven feasibility of detecting MTB in saliva opens the door to a fundamental improvement in human health and has the potential to be a significant advancement towards eradicating Tuberculosis worldwide."

Ben Cobb, CEO of ReadyGo Diagnostics added, "I'm thrilled about our continued progress and collaboration with Gemina in establishing a tuberculosis diagnostic platform using saliva as the primary sample. We understand the pressing need for an affordable triage tool that can replace smear microscopy, particularly in resource-constrained areas of the world. Using our experience and the tools at our disposal has been immensely beneficial in developing this test and I'm pleased with the progress we've achieved. We are dedicated to becoming the preferred development partner for companies seeking to create cost-effective molecular diagnostics for patients across diverse healthcare environments."

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Brian Firth
CEO

Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

About Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

Gemina Labs is a biosensor and diagnostic company with a transformative, patented, proprietary chemistry that powers next-generation testing platforms for a wide range of pathogens that affect human health and wellness. Our technology drives testing platforms that are fast, affordable and accurate, and easily self-administered. Our development pipeline includes platforms for the rapid testing of COVID-19, influenza and other viruses. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.geminalabs.com.

About ReadyGo Diagnostics Ltd.

ReadyGo Diagnostics is a rapidly growing diagnostics company that designs, develops and commercialises novel sample collection devices and diagnostic platforms. Our proprietary technology molecular diagnostic platform, GEO™, permits low cost decentralised testing in under 30 minutes. Our Sampler transforms diagnostic testing by elegantly combining sample collection and processing into a single, user-friendly disposable and provides optimal and reproducible samples for testing using molecular, biochemical and lateral flow tests. For more information, please refer to the website: www.readygotest.com

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For more information regrading the Company, please contact:

Gemina Laboratories Ltd
Brian Firth, Chief Executive Officer
Email: [email protected]

ReadyGo Diagnostics Ltd
Ben Cobb, Chief Executive Officer
Ben Reed, Chief Commercial Officer
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Gemina Laboratories Ltd.