ZeptoMetrix Awarded CDC Contract to Produce and Distribute Reagents to Support Pandemic Influenza Diagnostic Development
ZeptoMetrix Corporation, a biotechnology firm, announced today it has been awarded a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to create a large, secure collection of influenza viruses, including avian influenza (bird flu) that will be provided to approved companies that develop diagnostic tests. Under the terms of this contract, ZeptoMetrix will initially grow at least 150 different viruses, including many different strains of avian flu, and store them in their secure state of the art BioStor™ Repository in Buffalo.
“This program will provide quality assured materials to aid in the development, evaluation and validation of point-of-care diagnostics for influenza and other respiratory organisms. Developers of diagnostic products need access to standardized viruses and viral materials that are not widely available today”, said Dr. James Hengst, President & CEO of ZeptoMetrix.
“Influenza viruses are constantly changing, recombining with each other and mutating into new strains, which makes their diagnosis an ongoing challenge. Having access to the most recent strains, soon after their discovery, will allow diagnostic manufacturers to challenge the sensitivity and specificity of their tests on a real-time basis. This will allow for refinement of diagnostic tests for optimal influenza detection prior to the strains’ spread across the globe,” notes Gregory R. Chiklis, Vice President, Research and Development, ZeptoMetrix. “The key to stopping any pandemic in its tracks is detecting it early and containing it,” Hengst adds.
Key to ZeptoMetrix being awarded this contract is their Buffalo facility that houses two large Biological Level 3 Enhanced laboratories. These laboratories, together with a select agent permit received from the CDC and USDA, allow the company to work safely with influenza and other infectious organisms. ZeptoMetrix scientists have also developed patent pending technologies to inactivate viruses so they can be safely handled in normal laboratories, another critical component to this contract. This is an important aspect for rapid development of new diagnostics tests, vaccines and therapeutics since most researchers do not have access to these specialized containment laboratories. These technologies are currently used by ZeptoMetrix to supply a wide variety of noninfectious micro-organisms to more than 4000 diagnostic researchers, testing facilities, and manufacturers worldwide.
CDC collects influenza viruses as part of its public health surveillance work in the U.S. and through its role as one of four international World Health Organization Collaborating Laboratories. A selection of these viruses are sent to ZeptoMetrix where the company’s scientists will then grow each of them, characterize the virus, quantify their level of infectivity and prepare a large number of deep frozen vials of each virus. ZeptoMetrix scientists will also prepare noninfectious virus preparations to be sent to researchers engaged in developing diagnostic tests. Shipments are scheduled to begin later this year.
ZeptoMetrix has a number of other CDC contracts including recently awarded programs related to HIV testing, whooping cough detection and Biodefense preparedness. In 2006, ZeptoMetrix, together with its New Zealand partner, Virionyx, launched Buckler Biodefense Corporation, a Buffalo-based joint venture aimed at creating therapeutics for anthrax, botulism and other bioterrorism agents. This work is being done in collaboration with researchers at the NY State Department of Health and at Buffalo’s Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute. Through efforts with legislators, Buckler was able to have potential therapeutics they developed tested by USAMRIID and NIH.
About ZeptoMetrix, Corp.
ZeptoMetrix Corporation (ZMC) is a fully integrated biotechnology company that manufactures and distributes products for the research and biotechnology communities worldwide. ZeptoMetrix prides itself in truly partnering with their customers. ZMC is headquartered in Buffalo, New York, where the 15,000 square foot facility includes state of the art Biological Level 3 Enhanced laboratories for the development and manufacture of infectious disease products. ZMC also houses over 10,000 liters of clinical specimens from over one million donors in their 14,000 square foot facility located in Franklin, Massachusetts. Scientists use these materials worldwide in the development, manufacture and QA/QC of diagnostic tests and devices. For more information, visit www.zeptometrix.com.