21 April 2020, Murrieta, CA USA. GattaCo announced on Monday an Early Access Program (EAP) of a new product called the A-PON™, an automatic plasma separation tool. The A-PON™ separates plasma from whole blood collected from a finger-stick without the need for a centrifuge. The selected EAP participants will be granted open access to the device to validate alongside their detection technologies. The A-PON™ is optimized for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the program target is to enable manufacturers to develop rapid testing solutions for COVID-19 disease. Interested parties can apply to the program immediately, with the A-PON™ being available to ship early May.
Dr. Michael McNeely, GattaCo’s President and CEO stated “The A-PON™ is based on GattaCo’s Sípon-15 platform but is optimized for rapid antibody assays, including Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM lateral flow and new point-of-care ELISA and biosensor platforms.” Mahmoud Zubaidi, GattaCo’s CSO, added “In company studies the A-PON™ has been shown to have 80-120% more Human IgG and IgM Antibodies available for rapid COVID-19 testing compared to the same volume of whole blood. It has also been shown to recover 10-20% higher concentrations of antibodies than traditional centrifuge derived plasma, as antibodies are commonly lost through the centrifugation process.”
When used as directed, A-PON™ derived plasma can be obtained in under 5 minutes in any setting including at a doctor’s office, at home, at screening centers, or anywhere fingerstick blood can be collected. The A-PON™ requires no power, support equipment or skill on the part of the user, eliminating the need for the phlebotomist, lab tech and centrifuge infrastructure that is otherwise required to obtain plasma. GattaCo’s technology, as used in the A-PON™ and in follow-on products, simplifies sample preparation and may improve sensitivity, accuracy, repeatability, specificity, and the degree of multiplexing of COVID-19 diagnostics. The A-PON™ can be used as a stand-alone tool or integrated into a sample-to-result platform potentially suitable for home testing.
Only a small number of highly qualified candidates will be selected to participate in the EAP. The purpose of the program will be to collect additional verification data to optimize the design and performance of the A-PON™ and validate its use with specific antibody-based assays including quantitative assays. EAP participants will benefit by gaining early access to the revolutionary new point-of-need automatic plasma separation technology developed by GattaCo, receive discounts on A-PON™ devices once they are commercially available, and/or receive credits for customized development of follow-on products using GattaCo’s technology. The A-PON™ is expected to be commercially available beginning in the 4th Quarter 2020.
Interested candidates should meet the following criteria to qualify for the EAP:
1. Have an existing solution or an ongoing development program for COVID-19 diagnostics.
2. Be an accredited assay development and/or testing entity.
3. Have the bandwidth to meet fast-paced collaboration and development deliverables and timelines, including being willing to share verification data and information in a timely manner.
4. Be able and willing to participate in an open collaborative relationship.
5. Be prepared to engage in financial commitments at various stages of the EAP process.
Please contact GattaCo at EAP@gattaco.com for additional information about the program.