OMEGA Diagnostics has underlined its confidence of completing the verification and validation checks needed to deliver its HIV testing kit, which it believes can transform the lives of patients living with the condition in developing countries.
Clackmannanshire-based Omega said it has achieved a “significant milestone” in the developments of its Visitect CD4 kit. The instrument-free device uses a pin-prick blood test to tell healthcare workers if an HIV patient requires retroviral drug treatment.
The company said it has now attained “formal design freeze” for the kit following the successful of three pilot batches at three hospital sites. It will now use the chosen design to manufacture three validation batches which will be sent for field trial evaluation at selected sites in the UK and India. Omega is confident the kit can revolution the treatment of HIV in developing countries by allowing workers to test patients in the field.
The company told the stock market: “We remain confident in completing the verification and validation programme to deliver a unique product which we believe will meet a large unmet medical need for people living with HIV infections in resource- limited countries.”
The update came as Omega, which is also developing allergy testing kits, said it expects to report an underlying pre-tax profit of £1.1 million for the year to March 31. Revenue is expected to be three per cent up on last year on a constant currency basis, and 12 per cent on actual terms because of the weakening of sterling against the US dollar and euro, at £12.74m.
The firm’s food intolerance testing arm is expect-ed to report revenue of £8m, up from £7.06m.
Shares were off 0.62p at 23p.
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