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Vatic begins clinical trials for affordable Covid-19 saliva test

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LONDON (PRWEB)

Vatic, a UK-based healthtech company, announces that its KnowNow COVID-19 test has entered into clinical trials in the U.S. to secure Emergency Use Authorisation from the FDA.

Vatic is trialling its on-the-spot-result KnowNow saliva test to identify current COVID-19 infections and, more specifically, those who are infectious and can pass on the virus. KnowNow looks for the ‘spike’ on the virus as a true measure of infectivity and is one of the first lateral flow tests specifically developed to use saliva rather than nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs. Its goal is to provide results in fewer than 15 minutes, without a lab.

The trials will determine whether KnowNow can identify infectious or pre-infectious COVID-positive people and so can be deployed as a vital screening tool to protect populations and minimise transmission. The company’s technology – founded by a partnership of UK and Danish scientists – was developed to work as a trapdoor, using the COVID-19 virus’ own mechanism of cell entry as a means of generating signal and ignoring harmless viral matter/ remnant signals. The test intends to provide a more robust and timelier indicator of a person’s level of infection. Virtually every other antigen test works by detecting the nuclear protein in the centre of the virus (a proxy measure and so not a true indication of infectivity and not as specific an identifier).

“Given the rise of multiple mutations across the world, vaccinations are not the quick fix to ending this virus,” said Alex Sheppard, CEO and co-founder of Vatic. “Instead, regular testing and vaccine technologies need to work together to help reduce the overall spread and reopen society such as public transportation, sporting and cultural events, while helping to keep people safe from the virus.”

About Vatic

Founded in October 2019 by Alex Sheppard and Dr. Mona Kab Omir, Vatic is a U.K.-based healthtech company that develops the KnowNow COVID-19 test, which is currently approved for use in the U.K. market. With investments by LocalGlobe and Hoxton Ventures, and funding from the University of Oxford and Innovate UK Vatic is venture, academia and U.K. government backed, and headquartered in London. For more information about Vatic, go to https://www.vatic.health.

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