Microbix Supporting Australian Point-of-Care Testing Program

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, March 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, OTCQX: MBXBF, Microbix®), a life sciences innovator, manufacturer, and exporter, announces that its Quality Assessment Products (“QAPs™”) are now supporting test accuracy within a program to provide Point-of-Care Testing (“PoCT”) for Sexually-Transmitted Infections (“STIs”) in remote communities across Australia. An initial supply of QAPs has been delivered to the end-customer via Microbix’s regional distributor, r-Biopharm Australia Pty Ltd, for support of the program.

The program being supported by QAPs is directed to improving the health of Australians in more-remote areas by using PoCTs to improve access to diagnosis and treatment of STIs. The program involves 60 sites across five regions of Australia and is using a well-known molecular diagnostics (“MDx”) PoCT instrument system to test for and distinguish between three bacterial STIs, namely Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea, and Trichomonas vaginalis.

Microbix is supplying its QAPs formatted onto the FLOQSwabs® of its strategic partner, Copan®, under the PROCEEDx™FLOQ® brand. The PROCEEDxFLOQ QAPs have been formatted as multiplex positives that contain whole-genome MDx targets for each of the three targeted STI pathogens and as STI-free negatives, each with sample-adequacy control. Microbix’s QAPs dry FLOQSwab® formulations are validated to be stable for two years at temperatures as high as 30 Celsius – a critical property for use in the targeted regions of Australia. Microbix concludes that ease of access to fast and accurate diagnosis, followed by effective treatment, is key to reducing the disease burden and healthcare costs of STIs. It is therefore honoured to be supporting this Australian program for STI testing in remote communities, which Microbix believes is providing a worldwide model for helping underserved populations.

Philip Hill, General Manager of r-Biopharm Australia commented, “r-Biopharm is pleased that the program will be delivering world-class diagnostic testing to some of the most remote populations in Australia. It has been a privilege to work with the program’s operational team and Microbix to integrate the use of the best possible test and test-workflow controls into the program.”

Phil Casselli, SVP of Sales & Business Development of Microbix stated “We believe that accessible and accurate testing for STIs is critical to being able to direct effective treatment and reduce re-transmission. It is often impractical for more-remote areas to use testing that relies on distant central labs and they can therefore benefit from the usage of PoCTs. This program, supported by PROCEEDxFLOQ QAPs, should help to provide the kind of testing needed in these Australian communities.”

Microbix’s FLOQSwab-based QAPs support both STIs and other disease categories, with the full catalogue available at https://microbix.com and purchase enquiries directed to [email protected].

About Microbix Biosystems
Microbix creates proprietary biological products for human health, with over 100 skilled employees and annualized sales targeting C$ 2.0 million per month. It makes a wide range of critical ingredients and devices for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs™) that support clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic workflows. Its antigens drive the antibody tests of approximately 100 diagnostics makers, while QAPs are sold to clinical laboratory accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical laboratories. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30 countries, distributed by 1WA (Oneworld Accuracy Inc.), Alpha-Tec Systems, Inc., Diagnostic International Distribution SpA., Labquality Oy, The Medical Supply Company of Ireland, Neo-Science Equipment LLC, R-Biopharm AG, SDT Molecular Pte Ltd, Seegene Canada Inc., and Thomas Scientific LLC. Microbix is ISO 9001 and 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed, and provides CE marked products.

Microbix also applies its biological expertise and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and technologies, most notably viral transport medium (DxTM™) to stabilize patient samples for lab-based molecular diagnostic testing and Kinlytic® urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots. Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes “forward-looking information,” as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, discussion of r-Biopharm Australia, the products of Microbix or its collaborators, Microbix’s business and business results, goals or outlook, risks associated with financial results and stability, development projects such as those referenced herein or in its corporate presentation, regulatory compliance and approvals, sales to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital or raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Company’s judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information.

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Copyright © 2023 Microbix Biosystems Inc.
Microbix®, DxTM™, Kinlytic®, PROCEEDx™, and QAPs™ are trademarks of Microbix Biosystems Inc.
PROCEEDx®FLOQ® is a trademark of Microbix Biosystems Inc. in collaboration with Copan Italia S.p.A.
Copan®, FLOQ® and FLOQSwab® are trademarks of Copan Italia S.p.A.