DST funded startup develops kits for testing asymptomatic COVID-19 infections, vaccine production
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 11
The latest in the line of DST-funded startups is the Seagull BioSolutions, which is working on new biological technologies, to develop Active Virosome (AV)-Vaccine and Immunodiagnostic kits for COVID-19 emergency.
The government has invited for proposals from Indian companies and enterprises for supporting technologically innovative solutions towards fighting COVID-19.
According to the officials, as many as 140 companies, have submitted their proposals till date. Many of these are from startups offering innovative solutions covering the gamut of areas.
Active Virosome Technology (AVT) developed by Seagull Bio is useful for the production of vaccines and immunotherapeutic agents, they said.
The company anticipates that the unique features of AVs will enable the starting Phase I trials, by the end of 18-20 months, and Immunodiagnostic kits to be ready for the field trials by the end of August, 2020, and approved in 10-11 months.
The AV vaccine is expected to take a longer time.
However, given the emergency situation, SBPL aims to complete the proof of concept in 80 days and complete preclinical development and start Phase I trial by the end of 18-20 months, said officials.
The AVT platform is useful for producing novel, non-hazardous and economical Active Virosome agents expressing desired antigens from the target pathogen.
These will be used to develop a novel vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 infection and also immunodiagnostic ELISA kits for COVID-19.
“Accurate diagnostics, breaking the chain of transmission, therapy and preventive measures including safe and effective vaccines are the foundational pillars of addressing the challenges of COVID-19. Of these, developing vaccines has the longest timeline and so it is essential to fast track that activity NOW,” said, secretary DST, Professor Ashutosh Sharma.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic kits, which are currently available in India are rapid. They enable detection of active COVID-19 infection, but cannot identify asymptomatic infections, or those people, who were exposed to or infected with COVID-19 in the past and did not suffer from the disease or have recovered from COVID-19 disease and may still be spreading the virus.
In contrast, Immunodiagnostic kits help in detection of the antibodies to COVID-19, which can identify these infections also.
Therefore, SBPL has initiated efforts to produce Immunodiagnostic kits for COVID-19. These tests will enable healthcare researchers to monitor the spread of COVID-19 more accurately.
Officials say the Indian industry and the start-up ecosystem have responded enthusiastically to the invitation by the Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the DST, for proposals from Indian companies and enterprises for supporting technologically innovative solutions towards fighting COVID-19.
TDB provides financial support to Indian companies for the commercialisation of indigenous technology or adaptation of imported technology and had invited proposals on March 20, 2020, to strengthen the nation’s core capacities in fighting COVID-19.
It covered key areas like surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, logistics, risk communication, and, in particular, to strengthen the capabilities in terms of isolation and management of critically ill patients for containing and preventing the spread of the pandemic.
“The impact of the call was widespread, and within the first week, more than 300 companies marked their presence by registering on TDB Portal. In addition, 140 companies have submitted their proposals to date. Many of these are from Startups offering innovative solutions covering the gamut of areas”, officials add.
Meanwhile, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) an Institution of National Importance under the DST, has obtained a go-ahead for taking a bold step to provide innovative treatment to patients suffering from COVID-19 disease.
Technically called “convalescent-plasma therapy”, the treatment aims at using the immune power gained by a recovered person to treat a sick person.
Indian council for medical research (ICMR) the top authorising body in India has given approval to the SCTIMST for carrying out the novel treatment.
