Branford diagnostics company Tangen Biosciences Inc. said it won a contract from New York state’s health department to develop a point-of-care device to detect Candida auris, a deadly superbug that often spreads in hospitals and nursing homes.
Tangen, which is already developing anthrax and COVID-19 tests for the federal government, said it was one of three companies chosen to work with the department’s public health laboratory, the Wadsworth Center, to fight the drug-resistant fungus, which causes severe illness in hospitalized patients.
There has been a worrisome rise in Candida auris cases around the world in recent years, with more than half of the 1,092 confirmed U.S. cases as of March concentrated in New York state, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
“Rapidly detecting Candida auris is crucial to control its spread in hospitals and the community, including nursing homes, which have been identified as incubators for this superbug,” said Tangen Chief Scientific Officer Dr. John Davidson. “We are excited to work with the Wadsworth Center to address this very important public health issue.”
The 18-month contract is worth $250,o00, according to the Wadsworth Center’s request for proposals.
Under the contract, Tangen said it will develop a skin swab-based Candida auris assay that would run on its portable GeneSpark instrument. It will also develop a swab-based Candida auris test for environmental surveillance.
The company’s Tangen DX and GeneSpark molecular diagnostic system includes an assay kit and hand-held testing device that can be used outside of a lab setting. The company has touted the device as faster, cheaper and more sensitive than existing technology.
Tangen has also been working for the federal government on a point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It plans to seek Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for that test within the next month.
Contact Natalie Missakian at news@newhavenbiz.com.
