Rockeby Signs Deal for Avian Flu Test With HK Company
Bernama, 2 May 2006

SINGAPORE, May 2 (Bernama) -- Rockeby biomed has signed a distribution agreement with Anigen Diagnostics of Hong Kong for its Vetscreen, a one-step gel-based "reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)" test for bird flu infection.

Vetscreen is used to confirm the presence of the Avian influenza virus in poultry and human specimens in clinical laboratories, following initial detection using Rockeby's avian influenza rapid test which is suitable for in-field use.

Rockeby biomed said in a statement today that VetScreen will be sold for US$750 per kit for 50 reactions with accompanying reagents.

There are three different VetScreen kits available, namely avian influenza virus (AIV) (subtype H1-H15), AIV H5 (subtype H5) and AIV H7 (subtype H7).
 

"Rockeby will have exclusive rights to the marketing and distribution of VetScreen in Singapore and Indonesia for two years, and non-exclusive rights in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Middle East, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka," the company said.

Avian flu, also known as "bird flu", is an infectious disease of birds caused by Type A strains of the avian influenza virus (H5N1).

"We entered into this distribution agreement following many requests from our distributors for a PCR test to confirm the avian flu virus following screening with our rapid test. VetScreen and the Rockeby avian influenza rapid test for detecting avian flu are complementary, and in combination provide a very strong tool for veterinarians," said Dr Sze-Wee Tan,

chief executive officer of Rockeby biomed.

Rockeby will be promoting the VetScreen PCR tests together with its avian influenza virus rapid test at the Lancet Asia Medical Forum 2006 tomorrow and on Thursday at the Suntec Convention Centre here.

The inaugural Lancet Asia Medical Forum 2006, titled "Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: The Avian Dimension and Other Emerging Threats", will provide a platform for key health administrators, experts from the medical and scientific communities as well as industry representatives to address the critical public health issue.

It will involve health ministries in the region as well as international health organizations and is expected to be attended by more than 400 participants from Asia and around the world.-- BERNAMA