News from Hyrax Biosciences

Hyrax Biosciences to include HIV, TB, and respiratory virus panels in their co-marketing agreement with Roche

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Dr Natasha Wood 29/04/2024

Hyrax Biosciences is extending their co-marketing agreement with Roche to include integrated sample preparation workflows for HIV, TB and respiratory virus panels. With Hyrax Biosciences' streamlined analysis and Roche’s KAPA HyperCap and KAPA HyperPETE workflows for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Sample Preparation, users can expect faster turn-around times, sequencing efficiency, and panel-specific consolidated reporting.

In June 2021, Hyrax Biosciences announced the initial co-marketing agreement with Roche for a comprehensive sample-to-report genomics sequencing solution for SARS-CoV-2. Roche’s KAPA HyperCap SARS-CoV-2 Panel (RUO)* is designed for enhanced sequencing, and Hyrax Biosciences' Exatype analysis platform offers integrated, simplified and scalable SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and reporting.

The new announcement to include HIV, TB and respiratory virus panels, marks a logical progression for the ongoing collaboration Hyrax Biosciences has with Roche. With over a decade of expertise in HIV-sequence data analysis, Hyrax Biosciences is globally recognized for its Exatype platform, routinely used for HIV drug-resistance reporting in more than 50 countries around the world. In alignment with UNAIDS' ambitious goal to eradicate AIDS by 2030, the timely reporting of HIV drug resistance is paramount1. By using both Roche’s KAPA HyperPETE Panel for HIV (RUO)*, and Hyrax Biosciences' Exatype platform, users can experience seamless and efficient HIV sequencing and drug-resistance reporting.

Further, at the UN High-level meeting on TB in September 2023, global leaders pledged to equally ambitious targets aimed at eradicating TB by 20302. As the second most deadly infectious disease after COVID-19, TB, and especially drug-resistant TB, can be difficult and expensive to treat. Historically, drug-resistance diagnostics were limited, with traditional methods often taking months to yield results and delaying access to crucial treatment2. With the ongoing advancement of sequence-based interpretation algorithms provided by Exatype (Hyrax Biosciences), coupled with Roche’s KAPA HyperCap Panel for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (RUO)*, this co-marketing agreement could fuel further scientific research towards fulfilling the UN target to end TB2.

While HIV and TB are well known pathogens, SARS-CoV-2 highlighted the importance of respiratory-pathogen pandemic preparedness3. A key initial step in preparedness is the efficient identification of circulating respiratory viruses3. Roche’s KAPA HyperCap Respiratory Virus panel (RUO)* is designed for sequencing efficiency, and Hyrax Biosciences' Exatype platform enables rapid identification of respiratory viruses, which allows laboratories worldwide to contribute to their respective countries' preparedness for future respiratory-pathogen pandemics3.

“By leveraging our Exatype analysis platform to provide robust support for Roche’s KAPA HyperCap M.Tb and respiratory virus panels, as well as their KAPA HyperPETE HIV panel, we not only strengthen our collaboration with Roche but also showcase the remarkable flexibility of our Exatype platform. This fusion of customised scientific capabilities for each Exatype product, alongside the established and reliable platform-wide attributes, empowers our researchers to seamlessly incorporate their separate workflows into comprehensive end-to-end solutions." said Dr. Simon Travers, CEO of Hyrax Biosciences.

About Hyrax Biosciences: With headquarters in Ireland and South Africa, Hyrax Biosciences is perfectly situated to cater to the global sequencing community. Driven by one overriding goal - to automate the analysis and interpretation of pathogen DNA-sequence data - Hyrax Biosciences continues to develop and expand Exatype, their DNA analysis platform. Exatype offers in-depth results and concise reporting, featuring customised functionalities to address the specific requirements of our partners. For further information, please visit exatype.com, hyraxbio.com/partners/roche, and follow us on LinkedIn.

References:

  1. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2023/july/unaids-global-aids-update
  2. https://www.stoptb.org/news/historic-political-declaration-tb-adopted-member-states-united-nations-high-level-meeting
  3. https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-06-2023-a-new-era-for-respiratory-pathogen-pandemic-preparedness

*RUO (Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures). Exatype and KAPA products are for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
**HYPERCAP, KAPA HYPERPETE and KAPA are trademarks of Roche. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owner.