hosternokke schreef op 16 april 2020 19:46:
by @nasdaq on 16 Apr 2020, 10:00
Datametrex Obtains Rights to Import and Sell COVID-19 Test Kits From South Korea
TORONTO, April 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Datametrex AI Limited (the “Company” or “Datametrex”) is pleased to announce that entered into an agreement on April 13, 2020 securing the rights to import the iONEBIO INC’s iLAMP Novel-CoV19 Detection Kit (real-time Reverse Transcription LAMP-PCR assay system) into Canada, Under the terms of this agreement, Datametrex was also given rights to sell the tests into other countries around the globe, including the United States. Datametrex has developed strong relationships with many large multi-national companies in South Korea. As a result of these relationships, the Canadian Embassy in Seoul contacted Datametrex to ask for help in procuring rapid test kits.
The COVID-19 test kits are manufactured by iONEBIO INC. in South Korea, and are the same test kits that have been successfully used in South Korea in their “drive-through” testing stations. This kit has also been used to test every traveller entering into South Korea and those testing positive for Covid-19 were immediately isolated. Datametrex believes a key factor that allowed South Korea to slow the spread of COVID-19 was its ability to swiftly identify and quarantine those infected by testing millions of people using these test kits These test kits were first approved for use by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on August 30, 2019. In addition, an independent study was conducted by DankukUniversity (DKU) in Seoul, South Korea, and it was completed and approved on April 2, 2020.
Health Canada must approve these COVID-19 test kits before they can be used in Canada. The Company is currently working with Health Canada to have the approval of these kits fast tracked. These test kits are currently in use in some European and Asian countries outside of South Korea. Approval work has commenced with the FDA in the United States to obtain FDA approval and to authorize the tests under the Emergency Use Authorization Program run by US Center for Disease Control (CDC).
iONEBIO Inc. claims their test kits provide results within approximately 15 to 20 minutes with 99.9% accuracy. Each kit contains 288 individual tests, all of which can be completed in one hour. By utilizing these kits, screening stations can be set up almost anywhere and will allow for the early detection and swift quarantine of infected persons, which is believed to be a key factor in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Early detection using rapid tests will also provide further protection to Canada’s front-line workers, especially health care professionals.
South Korea has used this kit to test millions of its citizens and, as of April 14, 2020, there have been 10,654 cases of Covid-19 and 222 deaths reported. In North America, where the use of a rapid test has not been implemented on a large scale, there have been, as at April 14, 2020, 25,680 cases and 780 deaths in Canada and 588,465 cases and 23,711 death in the US. (All data collected by Datametrex’s Covid-19 dashboard, which is available at
www.datametrex.com/covid-board.html)“We strongly believe these kits will assist Canada in slowing the spread of Covid-19 and ultimately save lives. It’s incredibly rewarding for us to be able to help Canada combat the spread of COVID-19,” said Andrew Ryu, Chairman of the Company.
If the test kits are approved by Health Canada and the Canadian government purchases these test kits as expected, the Canadian government will be required to pay the kits in advance. Datametrex expects that all of its costs and expenses related to the import of these tests will be satisfied out of the purchase price for the tests paid for by the Canadian government.
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