Celltrion Group announced the launch of two rapid kits for SARS-CoV-2 in the US by the third week of August. SAMPINUTETM COVID-19 Antigen MIA is an electrochemical immunoassay test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen from nasopharyngeal swab samples, composed of one time use test cartridges and a portable analyzer developed in collaboration with BBB1.
DiaTrustTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test is a one-step in-vitro diagnostic test based on immunochromatographic assay designed for the rapid detection of antibodies of the novel coronavirus in healthcare settings in collaboration with Humasis2.
Both SAMPINUTETM COVID-19 Antigen MIA (antigen test) and DiaTrustTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test (antibody test) have shown reliable performance and promising clinical trial results. SAMPINUTETM COVID-19 Antigen MIA has a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 100%, with time to results within 10 minutes.
DiaTrustTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test also shows reliable performance with 96% positive percent agreement and 98.67% negative percent agreement for IgM, 92% positive percent agreement and 100% negative percent agreement for IgG. The turnaround time is 15 minutes.
Celltrion requested Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for SAMPINUTETM COVID-19 Antigen MIA on July 24th, and for DiaTrustTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test on July 8th. The rapid tests kits are currently under the review of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization. Celltrion anticipates the FDA EUA approval and subsequent commercialization in the US market by mid-August.
Celltrion is also developing a potential antiviral treatment for COVID-19 with its phase I clinical study initiated on July 17th.
Celltrion plans to launch the second generation antibody and antigen tests, in collaboration with the DiaTrustTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test’s manufacturer Humasis, for which Celltrion will apply its proprietary COVID-19 antibody-antiviral technology to enhance detection sensitivity during the second half of 2020.
“Celltrion has been striving to bring the tests into the US. The need for more accessible, affordable, and most importantly, rapid diagnostic testing will grow, as the daily activities are coming back, and the economy is opening up again,” a Celltrion representative stated. “With the short turnaround time and promising performance of the sensitivity and specificity results, Celltrion is confident that both SAMPINUTETM COVID-19 Antigen MIA and DiaTrustTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test will add great value to healthcare providers in screening patients and keeping communities safe.”
About Celltrion, Inc
Headquartered in Incheon, Korea, Celltrion is a leading biopharmaceutical company, specializing in the research, development and manufacture of small molecules, biosimilars and innovative drugs. Celltrion strives to provide more affordable biosimilar mAbs to patients who previously had limited access to advanced therapeutics. Celltrion received FDA and EC’s approval for INFLECTRA® and Remsima®, respectively, the world’s first mAb biosimilar approved from regulatory agencies in developed countries.
