Posted: 14 September 2023
As per 31 July (Appendix 4C), transformative cancer diagnostics technology company, Rhythm Biosciences Ltd (ASX: RHY) (“Rhythm” or the “Company”) is pleased to confirm it has progressed the Company’s objective to automate the ColoSTAT® test (“ColoSTAT” or the “Kit”) and transfer the immunoassay procedure and protocol to its first automated system.
Automation objectives
ColoSTAT is an ELISA based testing platform (utilising five different protein biomarkers) which requires manual handling in the laboratory process for preparing the immunoassay.
Collaborating with Nutripath Pty Ltd (“Nutripath”) and one of its diagnostic machine vendors, Tecan Australia Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Swiss based Tecan Group Ltd) (“Tecan”), the parties identified opportunities to streamline the current process using the Tecan EVO. The Tecan EVO is widely used throughout the current Rhythm target markets (UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the USA) for ELISA immunoassay testing.
Automation Agreement with Nutripath Pty Ltd
Rhythm has executed an Automation Agreement with Melbourne-based, privately owned medical laboratory, Nutripath Pty Ltd. Established in 2011, Nutripath is a specialty clinical laboratory, pioneering a systems approach that supports healthcare providers in the area of health and wellbeing pathology testing. Nutripath’s testing services assist general practitioners and other healthcare providers in identifying the underlying cause of illness, as well as providing tools for the prevention of disease and premature ageing. Nutripath has NATA ISO15189 accreditation, a requirement for quality and competence in medical laboratories.
Nutripath has established a broad reach in the Asia Pacific region, with current business channels in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and South-East Asia. With a significant growth in providing the private market with specialty tests, Nutripath has also increased their footprint into the USA via a CLIA lab, offering an opportunity for global marketing of their tests.
Rhythm’s Chief Commercial Officer, Elena Deak, said “We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Nutripath and Tecan to investigate and automate our immunoassay on the Tecan EVO. This brings significant synergies between all three parties and is a substantial step to ensure that we can bring ColoSTAT to market and make it easier to operate for our customers.”
Nutripath Director, James Cavaggion, said “we are thrilled to extend our technology services in conjunction with Tecan to support Rhythm Biosciences to establish an automated solution using the Tecan EVO. This marks the initial stage of a promising partnership, with the potential to explore other avenues in the months to come.”
