Wakefield (UK), 10 June 2011: Carclo plc announces that it has formed a new company to license its innovative enabling technology to customers in the Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostics arena.
The new company, Carclo Diagnostic Solutions Ltd, www.carclodiagnosticsolutions.com, has developed a proof-of-concept, disposable electronic testing platform which takes a sample of body fluid and provides a permanent digital output of a test result. The low cost technology, branded micropoc, will be available to interested parties to license and apply to their own specific assay. Initial development as a D-dimer assay has proved successful but is equally applicable to a wide range of assays.
In 2007, Carclo established a joint project with BBI Holdings plc (“BBI”), to develop a low cost immuno-assay based on technology developed by a venture capital backed company, Platform Diagnostics Limited ("PDL"). BBI contributed the assay chemistry which was initially aimed at a test for D-dimer, an indicator of deep vein thrombosis. Carclo contributed the hardware development: precision moulded microfluidics, mechanical design and an innovative low cost reader based on Carclo's own Conductive Inkjet Technology. This development was completed at the end of 2010. Carclo’s investment over the life of the project was £0.7 million. The joint project successfully demonstrated a low cost, single use, Point-of-Care quantitative test for D-dimer.
Carclo retained ownership of the patents and IPR related to the hardware platform and the low cost reader. It is apparent that this technology has application across a broad range of Point-of-Care diagnostic tests and is not limited to use with PDL’s Capillary Agglutination Technology (“CAT”). Accordingly, Carclo has formed Carclo Diagnostic Solutions to hold the intellectual property rights and to offer access to this innovative platform. Carclo Diagnostic Solutions Ltd has also taken an exclusive licence on PDL’s technology and will invest £0.5 million over the next 12 months to expand the range of assays applicable to the CAT technology. Carclo plans to invest an additional £0.5 million directly in Carclo Diagnostic Solutions to develop the hardware platform for use with industry standard ELISA assays.
Carclo Diagnostic Solutions has entered into a partnership with EKF Diagnostics Ltd ("EKF ") to bring their Argutus Medical kidney markers to market in this innovative format and is exploring further partnerships with other key players in the diagnostic market. Carclo Diagnostic Solutions does not plan to enter the diagnostic market directly, nor to develop or own the bio-chemistry behind the assays. However, the company will retain manufacturing rights for devices based on our IPR to underpin the continued growth of Carclo Technical Plastics.
Commenting, Commercial Director of Carclo Diagnostic Solutions Ltd, Martin Day, stated “we are excited to announce the formation of Carclo Diagnostic Solutions to commercialise the micropoc technology. We believe this to be a ground-breaking technology which companies will seek to use to bring new tests to the Point-of-Care market.”
Carclo Diagnostic Solutions Ltd brings together expertise from Carclo Technical Plastics in the manufacturing of microfluidic diagnostic devices, electronics expertise from Conductive Inkjet Technology and in-house development of hydrophilic surface treatment, reagent chemistry and welding/assembly techniques.
Carclo Technical Plastics, www.carclo-ctp.co.uk, is the largest division within Carclo plc with manufacturing operations in the UK, East and West USA, Czech Republic, India and China. The business increasingly adds value to its customers by assembling and packaging finished devices for the medical, pharmaceutical, diagnostic and ophthalmic sectors. Typical products include drug delivery devices and diagnostic consumables.
About Carclo, www.carclo.co.uk
Carclo plc is a technology led plastics group. It is a public company whose shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange.
Two thirds of sales are derived from the supply of fine tolerance, injection moulded plastic components, which are used in medical, optical and electronics products. This business, Carclo Technical Plastics, operates internationally in a fast growing and dynamic market underpinned by rapid technological development.
A third of sales are derived from the supply of specialised precision products to the premium automotive and aerospace industries. Carclo is a leader in the development of high power LED lighting for supercars.
Carclo's strategy is to develop new technologies and products to drive future growth. Its investment in Conductive Inkjet Technology is at the heart of the newly emerging market for very low cost printed electronics.
Contact: Martin Day, +44 208 685 0500
