FiBioMed advances work on the inPROBE technology platform for rapid viral infection diagnostics

It will soon be four years since the first recorded case of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection. The world has experienced a global pandemic, multiple lockdowns, an economic crisis, and has come to understand that the so-called "new reality" will become a permanent part of the socio-economic landscape. Many countries continue to report seasonal surges in infections, the virus keeps mutating, and experts are no longer asking whether another pandemic is possible. Instead, they are asking when it will occur, how quickly we will be able to contain it, and how we will manage the mass diagnostics of millions of people in large urban centers.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the biggest challenges of the current crisis management system were examined. Based on observations of phenomena accompanying the spread of the disease and collected data, the FiBioMed team developed a diagnostic technology that could help in the future with the rapid diagnosis of many people simultaneously, significantly accelerating the diagnostic process in large human gatherings. Thanks to this new method, it may be possible to avoid further lockdowns and the isolation of groups suspected of infection.

A new device will enable real-time simultaneous analysis of 96 samples (fiber optic microsensor panel). This mobile, high-throughput diagnostic device allows for the safe examination of samples in real-time and may be used in areas with large gatherings of people, such as big cities, office buildings, schools, and during sports or cultural events. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Łukasiewicz Research Network – PORT Polish Center for Technology Development in Wrocław.

Key milestones achieved so far in the technology platform application in the field of infectious diseases include:

1. 1.functionalization of a fiber-optic biosensor enabling specific interaction with a protein on the surface of the virus or with antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2
2. 2.optimization of the method for cleaning and activating the surface of an optical sensor with the capability to detect viral antigens at various concentrations
3. 3.obtaining the key biological elements (biomolecules) that constitute a crucial component of the technology being developed at FiBioMed, while meeting parameters exceeding the originally assumed range
4. 4.supervision of the obtained biological elements, which constitute a key component of the technology being developed at FiBioMed (biomolecules)
5. 5.development of a neutralizing buffer composition that allows for 100% inactivation of the virus within just 5 minutes while maintaining antigenic activity, reducing the risk of infection for personnel performing the test using the device
6. 6.testing and development of an algorithm for measuring and interpreting the spectral result of the analyzed sample, enabling the examination of 96 samples simultaneously in the laboratory version of the device
7. 7.commencement of engineering work on the development of the first complete prototype of a comprehensive diagnostic system for use in infectious diseases (based on the SARS-CoV-2 virus model)

Thanks to the completion of these works, the Company can already consider expanding the scope of this technology platform application to other infectious diseases. As a result, the Company aims to further develop the application panel of the FiBioMed technology in the future across various viruses, bacteria, and fungal diseases, including those associated with virus-induced cancers (e.g., HPV-related cancers).

"FiBioMed is currently also focused on industrial research, further development, and pre-implementation work. The company continues to work on the final prototype of a diagnostic device for infectious diseases, within the fields of bioengineering and optoelectronics. The completion of this project phase is scheduled for December 31, 2023. In 2024, the company plans to continue research and development efforts and initiate work on a commercially available innovative diagnostic device for infectious diseases, including regulatory and certification processes. The final product design and elements of the Visual Identity System will also be created. The estimated implementation of these activities is expected no sooner than one year after the completion of the grant-funded project co-financed by NCBR." – Mateusz Sagan, Chief Operating and Business Development Officer, SDS Optic S.A.

FiBioMed Sp. z o.o. as a subsidiary, is part of the SDA Optic S.A. Capital Group, which also includes SDS Optic S.A., headquartered in Lublin, Poland, and SDS Optic Inc., based in Delaware (DE), US. FiBioMed operates under a licensing agreement with SDS Optic S.A., granting it a free, full, and non-exclusive license to use the inPROBE^® technology. The developed device utilizes the inPROBE^® technological platform, which has been significantly modified for the detection of viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2.

More about FiBioMed Sp. z o.o. You can learn more about significant events in the life of the Company from the current and periodic reports of SDS Optic S.A. (https://ir.sdsoptic.com), on the website https://fibiomed.com, as well as on FiBioMed's social media channels.