[ad_1]
(MENAFN – Swissinfo) Pharmaceutical group Roche says authorities will have to use less accurate antigen tests, as well as the gold standard polymerase chain reaction test to identify potential Covid-19 cases if they want to start tackling to the second wave of infections.
This content was published on October 16, 2020 – 12:00 October 16, 2020 – 12:00 Donato Paolo Mancini in London
“If you look at the curves going up everywhere, relying solely on PCR will not work,” Thomas Schinecker, head of diagnostics at the Swiss company, told the Financial Times.
PCR tests evaluate if the genetic material of a virus is present, while antigen tests look for a protein that is present on the outer wall of a virus.
External content
PCR tests are more accurate, but Schinecker said antigen tests could help detect positive cases when people are most infectious and most likely to spread the virus.
‘Only a very small percentage [of those infected] it is responsible for 60-70% of infections, ”he said. “What is clear, and not only for this virus, is that if you have more viruses, the more likely you are to be more infectious.”
Roche’s antigen test currently on the market uses material collected from throat and nose swabs, although executives said they hoped to launch a version that works with saliva in the coming months.
Plus
Roche prepares to launch massive Covid tests
This content was published on October 13, 2020 October 13, 2020
Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche says it will launch a new Covid-19 antigen test before the end of the year, allowing for faster and higher-volume tests.
Schinecker said the company could supply about 50 million such tests in November and December, increasing to 80 million after that.
Its current PCR manufacturing capacity is about 20 million tests per month.
Assignment
Roche also pointed to problems caused by the lack of international coordination to secure drug testing and supply. Severin Schwan, the CEO of the company, told the FT that all countries were ‘trying to ensure [its own] interests’.
‘There is no international authority in charge of assigning [of diagnostics]’he added.
“That is a challenge for us, and we always have to make sure that the allocation is based on fair criteria, so that we can advocate for it before all countries,” he said, also noting that because supply chains are cross-border, Hoarding components manufactured in one country has both local and international effects.
Schinecker said Roche assigned PCR tests based on population size and “installed capacity,” a measure of laboratory equipment in the country. “You cannot assign a test to a country that has no instrument installed,” he said.
High wages are not what they seem in Switzerland
If you are a Swiss banker, diplomat, or foreign CEO in Switzerland, you are likely to be living quite comfortably.
Shares in Roche, which released the results on Thursday, fell 2.6% in morning trading. It confirmed its forecast for the year, but total sales fell short of consensus estimates, growing 1% in constant currencies to CHF43.98 billion ($ 48 billion) in the first nine months of 2020. Roche does not report earnings figures. in the third trimester.
Plus
Roche supply issues affect UK’s Covid testing regime
This content was published on October 7, 2020 October 7, 2020
The Swiss pharmaceutical giant said that the move to a new distribution warehouse last month was causing a delay in the shipment of certain products.
MENAFN1610202002100000ID1100969307
Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this item, please contact the above provider.
