MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hologic, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOLX) announced today that it plans to launch a new Aptima® molecular assay to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus that will run on its market-leading Panther® system. Combining significant manufacturing capacity for the new test with the world’s largest installed base of high-throughput molecular instruments is expected to dramatically increase testing capabilities for the novel coronavirus.
Next week, Hologic expects to begin distributing a Research Use Only (RUO) version of its Aptima SARS-CoV-2 test to hospital, public health and reference laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to perform high complexity tests. These labs may use the assay for clinical testing on Hologic’s Panther system after completing performance verification testing. Also next week, Hologic plans to apply for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assay from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hologic plans to register a CE Mark for diagnostic use in Europe later in May.
Hologic expects to provide its laboratory customers approximately 3 million RUO tests initially. Starting in late May, the Company expects to begin producing at least one million Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assays per week on average. Hologic is also planning to increase its production capacity further in the coming months.
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract no. 75A50120P00069.
“Our second COVID-19 test leverages the same proprietary Aptima chemistry and Panther instrumentation that have made Hologic a leader in molecular diagnostics for other infectious diseases,” said Steve MacMillan, the Company’s Chairman, President and CEO. “The ability to deliver test results when and where they are needed -- so people can either get back to work or quarantine themselves -- has emerged as a key to re-opening global economies. We are responding to this need by developing a second test that can be produced in much larger quantities than our first, and run on a much larger installed base of instruments.”
The Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assay runs on the Panther system, a fully automated, high-throughput molecular diagnostic platform that is widely used around the world, with more than 1,800 systems installed in 60 countries. In the United States, just over 1,000 instruments are installed across all 50 states. Each Panther system can provide initial results in approximately three hours and process more than 1,000 coronavirus tests in a 24-hour period. Approximately 750 U.S. hospital, public health and reference labs use the Panther system and its suite of proprietary Aptima technologies – including transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) – to perform tens of millions of molecular tests annually for sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer screening and viral load monitoring in people with HIV and hepatitis.
In March 2020, Hologic received Emergency Use Authorization for its first COVID-19 test, the Panther Fusion® SARS-CoV-2 assay. The Panther Fusion system, an add-on module to the base Panther platform, uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chemistry to perform Hologic’s suite of respiratory assays such as influenza. Laboratories can use the Panther Fusion system to test a single patient sample for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses that can cause similar symptoms, increasing efficiency and clinical insight. Approximately 200 Panther Fusion systems are installed globally, with roughly half of these in the United States.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, our initial priority was speed to market, and the Open Access™ software on the Panther Fusion system allowed us to develop a test within a couple of months,” said Kevin Thornal, president of Diagnostic Solutions at Hologic. “Since then, however, testing needs have grown exponentially, both to control the virus and to help unlock economies. We are proud to have marshalled our human and technological resources, and our massive Aptima production capacity, to bring to market a test that can be implemented more broadly.”
Because Hologic’s supply chain has been geared to produce tens of millions of Aptima tests annually for other infectious diseases, the Company can redirect these manufacturing resources to produce large quantities of coronavirus assays. In addition, use of Hologic’s Aptima assays do not require additional sample preparation steps or commercial reagents from other vendors, which is expected to help reduce competition for raw materials and increase global testing capacity. Finally, to help alleviate shortages of commonly used sample collection swabs and transport media, Hologic has validated its Aptima® Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit for testing with both the Aptima and Panther Fusion® SARS-CoV-2 assays.
“We have been working closely with government agencies throughout Europe to make plans to provide our Aptima assays to countries across the continent starting in May,” said Jan Verstreken, Hologic’s regional president, EMEA and Canada. “With a broad assay menu already being used in laboratories around the world and Hologic’s ability to make millions of tests over time, we believe the Panther system may provide an ideal solution to help labs meet their testing needs during this critical period, which in turn will help re-open economies safely.”
Hologic’s molecular diagnostic tests are manufactured in the Company’s production facilities in San Diego, California and Manchester, United Kingdom. The Company is making investments to increase production capacity at both facilities by the fall.
About the Panther and Panther Fusion Systems
The Panther molecular diagnostics system is a best-in-class, fully automated, sample-to-result platform that can be used in low-, medium- or high-throughput laboratories. With a small footprint, adaptable workflow options and consolidated testing menu, it combines women’s health, sexually transmitted infections and viral testing, which can all be done simultaneously. In addition, patient samples can be loaded onto the Panther system as they arrive in the laboratory, a capability known as “random access” that improves efficiency and workflow. Overall, the instrument’s high throughput and quick turnaround time enable more patients to get results sooner.
The Panther system, launched in Europe in 2010 and the U.S. in 2012, employs a suite of proprietary Aptima technologies that are familiar to clinical laboratory customers. Notably, extraction and purification of viral nucleic acids is done via a process called target capture, in which specific viral nucleic acids are bound to magnetic particles. Then, amplification is performed in a single tube by Transcription Mediated Amplification, or TMA, which produces billions of copies of the target genetic material. This genetic material is then detected via chemiluminescent probes.
The Panther Fusion system utilizes PCR chemistry and provides an expanded in vitro diagnostics menu, as well as Open Access functionality to run laboratory developed tests. The systems now offer 16 FDA-cleared assays and 20 CE-marked assays that detect more than 20 pathogens.
About COVID-19
For more information about the novel coronavirus, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html.
About Hologic
Hologic, Inc. is an innovative medical technology company primarily focused on improving women’s health and well-being through early detection and treatment. For more information on Hologic, visit www.hologic.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, including statements about the use of Hologic’s Aptima® SARS-CoV-2 assay. There can be no assurance this product will be successfully developed, receive full market authorization, or achieve the benefits described herein. In addition, there can be no assurance that this product will be manufactured in adequate quantities to meet demand, be commercially successful, or achieve any expected level of sales. Hologic expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements presented herein to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
Hologic, Aptima, Panther, Panther Fusion, Open Access and The Science of Sure are registered trademarks of Hologic, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
SOURCE: Hologic, Inc.
