Drawbridge Health partners with University of Cambridge Researchers for use of OneDraw(TM) Blood Collection Device in COVID-19 and Other Clinical Studies

PR87011

MENLO PARK, Calif., Dec. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Drawbridge Health and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit,

University of Cambridge (UK) today announced the use of the OneDraw(TM) Blood

Collection Device[1] for remote blood sample collection in a large-scale

surveillance study currently being conducted to assess the prevalence of

previous infection with COVID-19. Because of the restrictions the pandemic has

created for normal contact between researchers and research volunteers, remote,

non-contact blood collection is critical for delivering fit-for-purpose samples

to the clinical testing laboratory in a safe and efficient way.

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The study [https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2997769-1&h=2303480019&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk%2Fblog%2Flaunch-fenland-covid-19-study%2F&a=The+study ], which was launched in July 2020 and has recruited

4,000 participants, is led by Professor Nick Wareham, Director of the MRC

Epidemiology Unit and Chief Investigator of the Fenland COVID-19 Study. The primary

aim of this study is to quantify the proportion of people who have been previously

infected with COVID-19 in the Fenland cohort, which is broadly representative of the

population of Cambridgeshire, a county in the East of England.

The OneDraw Blood Collection Device is being used in the study to obtain remote

blood samples from participants for repeated COVID-19 serological testing over

a 9-12 month period. The OneDraw device allows study participants to collect

blood samples at home, which can then be sent to the clinical testing

laboratory for analysis, without the need for face-to-face interaction with a

study team member,[2] thus minimizing virus exposure and potential spread.

This large-scale surveillance study was initiated out of the positive results

obtained from an earlier

feasibility study for COVID-19 serological testing that demonstrated the

suitability of using the OneDraw device for clinical studies and clinical

trials in a real world setting. The OneDraw device was successfully

administered by lay users who then mailed the samples to a clinical testing

laboratory via the regular postal system. In comparison against venipuncture or

fingerstick, the OneDraw device was associated with significantly less reported

pain and was the preferred modality of blood draw for 76% of participants.

Based on the demonstrated testing suitability and positive user experience with

the OneDraw device, Drawbridge Health and the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University

of Cambridge are developing a collaboration in metabolic health, including the

evaluation of nutritional biomarkers. Both in research and in clinical care,

there is a need for frequent monitoring of metabolic health markers which are

linked to future risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The measurement

of these markers plus nutritional biomarkers as measures of the dietary

determinants of metabolic health, would be enabled by remote blood sample

collection using the OneDraw device.

"Through the Fenland COVID-19 study, the OneDraw device has proven to be an

innovative and valuable solution for remote blood collection. The Fenland study

is lucky to have a very engaged community of research participants, so it's

been heartening to be able to use this technology to continue to work with them

when we can no longer see them face to face as we normally would," said

Professor Nick Wareham. "We look forward to partnering with Drawbridge to

support our core research activities in metabolic health and nutritional

biomarkers by adopting the OneDraw device to enable remote participant

monitoring in large-scale clinical and public health studies."

"Drawbridge Health recognizes the urgent need for better methods of blood

sample collection and high quality test results to aid in pandemic mitigation

as well as much-needed advancements in the management of metabolic disorders.

We are thrilled to advance and expand our partnership with the University of

Cambridge," said Lee McCracken, CEO of Drawbridge Health.

Notes to editors

Contact:

Eddy Garcia

egarcia@dbhealth.com

About Drawbridge Health

Founded in 2015 by GE Ventures and GE Healthcare, Drawbridge Health is a

healthcare technology company focused on reinventing the blood draw experience,

enabling comfortable convenient blood sample collection anytime and anywhere.

By integrating engineering, chemistries, and modular design, Drawbridge Health

has developed a people-friendly system for collecting and stabilizing blood

samples, opening new doors to enable access to important health information.

For more information, please visit www.drawbridgehealth.com.

About University of Cambridge MRC Epidemiology Unit

The MRC Epidemiology Unit is a department at the University of Cambridge. It is

working to improve the health of people in the UK and around the world.

Obesity, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders present a major and

growing global public health challenge. These disorders result from a complex

interplay between genetic, developmental, behavioural and environmental factors

that operate throughout life. The mission of the Unit is to investigate the

individual and combined effects of these factors and to develop and evaluate

strategies to prevent these diseases and their consequences.

www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk

Contact: Oliver Francis / Paul Browne comms@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk

The Fenland COVID-19 study is funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC).

Founded in 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers' money in

some of the best medical research in the world across every area of health.

Thirty-three MRC-funded researchers have won Nobel prizes in a wide range of

disciplines, and MRC scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as

vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between smoking and cancer, as well

as achievements such as pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the

invention of MRI scanning, and the development of a group of antibodies used in

the making of some of the most successful drugs ever developed. Today,

MRC-funded scientists tackle some of the greatest health problems facing

humanity in the 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases

associated with ageing to the threats posed by rapidly mutating

micro-organisms. The Medical Research Council is part of UK Research and

Innovation. https://mrc.ukri.org/

About the University of Cambridge

The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through

the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international

levels of excellence. To date, 109 affiliates of the University have won the

Nobel Prize. Founded in 1209, the University comprises 31 autonomous Colleges

and 150 departments, faculties and institutions. Cambridge is a global

university. Its 19,000 student body includes 3,700 international students from

120 countries. Cambridge researchers collaborate with colleagues worldwide, and

the University has established larger-scale partnerships in Asia, Africa and

America. The University sits at the heart of the 'Cambridge cluster', which

employs more than 61,000 people and has in excess of £15 billion in turnover

generated annually by the 5,000 knowledge-intensive firms in and around the

city. The city publishes 316 patents per 100,000 residents. www.cam.ac.uk

[1] The OneDraw A1C Test System received FDA clearance

[https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2997769-1&h=4228912036&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.drawbridgehealth.com%2Ffda-510k%2F&a=FDA+clearance ] in August 2019 and completed the CE Mark

[https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2997769-1&h=4180850348&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.drawbridgehealth.com%2Fce-mark-approval%2F&a=CE+Mark ] process in February 2020. University of Cambridge was

granted a dispensation by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory

Agency (MHRA) for a limited change from the CE licensed use of this device at home

by non-healthcare professional participants for blood sampling.

[2] https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/launch-fenland-covid-19-study/

SOURCE  Drawbridge Health