Prometric Announces Positive Development For Mad Cow Disease Detection
MONTREAL – BSafE Innovations Inc. (BSafE), a joint venture company owned by ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX - PLI) and Top Meadow Farms, dedicated to veterinary applications of prion research, is delighted to announce preliminary findings from its most recent testing.
8 June 2007
2 minute read
BSafE relies on the same PRDT platform technology and core competency used to develop the first human prion blood filter which just received European regulatory approval and which will be launched on a commercial scale by MacoPharma over the coming months.
Encouraged by the performance of the technology with human prions, PRDT scientists have been working on behalf of BSafE to demonstrate that the technology can be adapted to target specifically the bovine form of prions. Recent experiments have confirmed the ability of the proprietary technology to greatly enhance the sensitivity of post mortem testing for Mad Cow Disease.
"These initial results are very encouraging and could enable the detection of Mad Cow Disease in much younger animals and at much earlier stages of the disease to improve the safety of the food chain," said Christian Frayssignes, President and CEO of BSafE.
"Our overall expertise in prion research and ligand development over many years has lead us to this exciting development," said Pierre Laurin, President of ProMetic. "The future is very promising for the veterinary applications of this technology."
Further testing is underway to replicate the experiments under different conditions to confirm commercial applications. The first objective of BSafE is to provide the beef industry with a reliable and simple way to further improve the sensitivity of the current standard tests. BSafE's first device would take the form of a filter that would amplify the signal by concentrating bovine prions from brain tissue. BSafE filters will be designed to fit with current diagnostic testing providers. Ultimately, the company believes it will be possible to detect the disease from a simple blood sample.
"There is a real need for a more sensitive post mortem test than exists today in the market, for consumers around the world, regulatory bodies and researchers. This technology could pave the way down the road for a live animal diagnostic", said Kym Anthony, principal of Top Meadow Farms, Chairman of BSafE and a Director of ProMetic.
