XCyton Diagnostics Ltd., the medical diagnostic major has developed the DNA Chip for simultaneous identification of 15 different pathogens causing eye infections. Known as the 'XCyto-Screen', the kit is a landmark development in molecular diagnostics because it can identify infectious like Keratoconjunctivitis, Uveitis, Retinitis and endophthalmitis. The kit is a first-of-its-kind in the world to detect within six hours a variety of microorganisms capable of causing havoc to both the eyes.
According to Dr BV Ravi Kumar, chairman and managing director, XCyton the multi-testing capability will ensure faster diagnosis and quicker access to treatment. In India alone there are 200,000 cases affected annually with visual impairments and blindness with infectious diseases. Globally one million people are affected by eye infections.
The research which is a multi-institutional mission mode public private partnership project under the New Millennium Technology Initiative (NMITLI) by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had a total grant of Rs 3.5 crore. The company holds a CSIR patent for eye chip, developed in collaboration with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Shankar Netrayalaya, Chennai, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. The period of research spanned four years.
The cost of diagnostics with the DNA chip will be Rs 2,500 for each infection. The needs of the domestic market will be addressed through its in-house sales team through concept selling model. For the global markets the company is looking at two options either a technology transfer or a marketing alliance.
Another development is that under the same NMITLI scheme and with the share that XCyton received it also managed to develop the much-needed Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Chip for genotyping the dreaded cervical cancer where almost 510,000 people are affected globally each year with nearly 80 per cent from the developing countries. According to the National Cancer Registry, currently India has 1,30,000 cases with 74,000 fatal cases reported. According to World Health Organization, cervical cancer accounts for 24 per cent of cancers in India among women compared to 20 per cent breast cancer cases.
The HPV chip was a combined effort of Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, ACTREC, Mumbai, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, Cancer Foundation of India, Kolkotta and Christian Medical College, Vellore. The chip has been tested so far on 800 cases in India. The kit which is a preventive diagnostic technology will be priced at Rs. 1,500 per screen.
The unique features of the HPV screen is that it is highly sensitive to detect many different genes of HPV. Right now, the kit is used to test the samples taken from a cervical brush through cervical biopsy. Extensive studies are on to adopt the HPV screen like a pap smear and the company is working to come out with this new version within the next six months, stated Dr Ravi Kumar.
For the future, the company is sourcing a marketing fund through Amvar, the sister concern of Nadathur Holdings which supports knowledge based and innovation driven ventures in R&D lifesciences among others.