2nd November 2020

EKF Signs COVID-19 Antibody Test Distribution Agreement

Cardiff-headquartered EKF Diagnostics has signed an agreement for the distribution of a Covid-19 antibody test in the UK and Europe.

The AIM-listed business has secured a two-year marketing and distribution agreement with Kantaro Biosciences, a joint venture between the Mount Sinai Health System and RenalytixAI, and manufacturing partner Bio-Techne Corporation.

EKF will have exclusive rights to market and distribute COVID-SeroKlir , Kantaro’s quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test kit in the UK and Germany and non-exclusive rights in Europe.

The test measures the level of neutralizing antibodies in addition to other antibodies a person produces as part of their immune response to Covid-19 virus.

Julian Baines, chief executive at EKF, said: “EKF can drive rapid availability of COVID-SeroKlir kits and COVID-SeroIndex to a broad range of laboratories for immediate operation without needing specialized testing equipment.

“Quantitative testing can provide important support for determining public health strategies, informing healthcare decision making, and potentially verifying the effectiveness of vaccines as they become available.”

Sara Barrington, Kantaro’s chief commercial officer, added: “EKF’s robust footprint in regions affected by Covid-19 will allow us to get quantitative testing to patients and doctors as quickly as possible to help them assess immunity decision-making at both the individual level and for population-wide policy making.

“We believe that quantitative antibody testing will help patients and businesses take control of their healthcare choices during this uncertain time.”