Nordiag and Molzym enter into first sepsis agreement

Sepsis is one of the leading cause of death in hospitals world-wide. On March 17, it was announced that Molzym has entered into an agreement with Seegene for delivery of reagents based on their molysis technology for Seegenes new sepsis test to be introduced in the near future. Seegenes sepsis test will be executed at their SeePrep sample preparation instrument – an OEM instrument from NorDiag.

DNA DIAGNOSTICS: The agreement means that Seegene’s new Sepsis test is tailored to NorDiag’s sample preparation platform, and that users will have access to a SeePrep instrument to utilise the test. Additionally, Molzym and NorDiag have agreed on a profit agreement regarding delivery of reagents to strategic partners, which means that NorDiag will have a share of the profit after deduction of production costs. 

Sepsis is a deadly disease that leaves no clear track back to initial indications, which could include gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria or fungi. The results are devastating: the annual incidence rate of sepsis has increased 91.3 percent over the last 10 years, and every hour 25 people in the United States die from severe sepsis. One of every three patients who develop severe sepsis will die within a month. Severe sepsis, the leading cause of death in the non-coronary intensive care unit, takes more lives than breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers combined. 

There is an urgent need of a gene based Sepsis test in the market, because it is faster and more precise than traditional cultivation, and time is crucial in order to save lives. 

“We have great expectations to this concept, based on the expected sensitivity and specificity where Molysis and Arrow technology is combined with Seegene’s Magicplex amplification platform,” says Mårten Wigstøl, CEO of NorDiag ASA. 

Fastest growing field in diagnostics

NorDiag is a biotechnology company developing, manufacturing and marketing automated solutions (instruments and reagents) for sample preparation of DNA from difficult biological samples. 

DNA diagnostics give more rapid and precise answers and are the fastest growing field within diagnostics. The Company’s sample preparation solutions are today used in connection with STI, tuberculosis, MRSA, respiratory pathogens and viruses on instruments for large and small laboratories. 

NorDiag’s main objective is to deliver automated nucleic acid purification solutions for difficult clinical samples, and prepare nucleic acids for downstream genetic analysis with basis in its two instrument platforms Arrow and Bullet, as well as its chemistries for sample preparation kits. NorDiag provides clinical laboratories with a more advanced automation than is currently available. The automated solutions are designed to integrate with the analyses/amplification systems provided by the leading diagnostics companies. OEM supply of instruments and/or chemistry is part of the company’s strategy.

NorDiag is also part of a joint venture (Olerup International AB) where the core focus is sales and distribution of products within the field of HLA tissue typing. “Olerup International AB is a subsidiary of NorDiag ASA and a world leading provider of molecular diagnostic products and services for HLA typing and antibody detection,” comments Mårten Wigstøl.

NorDiag was founded in 2003 and has its headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The company has offices and laboratories in Stockholm, Sweden, in West Chester (PA), USA and in Vienna, Austria. The group has today 35.3 man-labour years. NorDiag is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange with ticker NORD. Link: www.nordiag.com.