GenScript, Parkway Laboratories and Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub collaborate to provide cPass(TM) SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Testing Service in Singapore

PR88953

SINGAPORE, April 12, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

GenScript Biotech Corporation ("GenScript", Stock Code: 1548.HK), Parkway

Laboratories and the Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub announced their

collaboration to provide the cPass(TM) SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody test in

Singapore through Parkway's panel of specialist and GP clinics.

Neutralizing antibodies are a small percentage of antibodies that bind to sites

on the virus and inhibit entry of that virus into the host. Unlike the many

COVID-19 lab-based antibody test kits commercially available, cPass(TM) can

detect functional neutralizing antibodies. Traditionally, measuring

neutralizing antibodies requires the use of live virus, cells, highly skilled

operators, and complex laboratory procedures that require several days in the

laboratory to obtain results and limit their widespread use. In contrast, the

cPass(TM) kit can be performed in most standard laboratories with a short

turnaround time (approx. 1hr). cPass(TM) is also adaptable to high throughput

and fully automated testing.

The cPass(TM) SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit was co-developed

by Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS), a research-intensive graduate-entry

medical school, GenScript, and DxD Hub. The kit has received provisional

authorization by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) Singapore, CE-IVD marking

in Europe and emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration (FDA).

"As a leading biotech company, we take it as our responsibility to contribute

in fighting COVID-19 with our technology and global collaboration with

partners. We are very glad to cooperate with Parkway and DxD in Singapore to

serve our local community with cPass(TM)," said Johnson Wang, President in

Asia-Pacific Region at GenScript.

"Parkway Laboratories has been in close partnership with DxD Hub since the

beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as early adopters of new diagnostic

platforms that gave our frontline clinicians the necessary detection tools to

make astute clinical decisions. We are now delighted to continue this

partnership and welcome cPass(TM) into our SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic armamentarium

to provide measurement of neutralizing antibodies. This will provide valuable

information on vaccinations for our patients," said Dr Daniel Tan, Chief

Executive Officer, Parkway Laboratories.

Dr Sidney Yee, Chief Executive Officer of DxD Hub, said: "As a national

platform which aims to accelerate the translation of R&D to clinically

validated diagnostics, we are heartened to see this public-private partnership

act very quickly to make the innovative cPass(TM) diagnostic test available to

clinicians in Singapore."

Professor Wang Linfa from the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme, Duke-NUS

Medical School who invented this assay said: "Unlike other commercially

available antibody tests which detect binding antibodies in general, the

cPass(TM) platform was invented to specifically monitor functional neutralizing

antibodies, and is the only antibody test approved by Health Science Authority

(HSA) Singapore and FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for that purpose."

About GenScript Biotech Corporation

GenScript Biotech Corporation (Stock Code: 1548.HK) is a global biotechnology

group. Built upon its leading gene synthesis technology, GenScript is divided

into four major platforms including the life science contract research

organization (CRO) platform, the biologics contract development and

manufacturing organization (CDMO) platform, the global cell therapy platform

and the industrial synthesis biological product platform.

GenScript was founded in New Jersey, US in 2002 and listed on the Hong Kong

Stock Exchange in 2015. GenScript's business operations span over 100 countries

and regions worldwide with legal entities located in the US, Mainland China,

Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands and Ireland. GenScript provides

premium, convenient and reliable products and services for over 100,000

customers. As of December 31, 2020, GenScript had more than 4600 employees

globally, over 39% of whom hold master's and/or Ph.D. degrees. In addition,

GenScript owns a number of intellectual property rights and trade secrets,

including 146 patents and 517 pending patent applications.

Driven by the corporate mission of "making people and nature healthier through

biotechnology", GenScript strives to become the most trustworthy biotech

company in the world. As of December 31, 2020, GenScript's products or services

have been cited by 52,500 peer-reviewed journal articles worldwide.

For more information, visit GenScript's official

website:https://www.genscript.com.

About Parkway Laboratories

Parkway Laboratories is one of Singapore's leading private laboratories with a

central reference laboratory which has attained multiple accreditations such as

ISO 15189, College of American Pathologist (CAP), and Joint Commission

International (JCI), ensuring consistent and high-quality services in the areas

of clinical laboratory, histopathology and molecular diagnostics. In addition,

it operates four well-equipped laboratories located within IHH Healthcare's

four hospitals in Singapore, to provide fast and accurate results for patients

and medical practitioners. Parkway Laboratories was the first private

laboratory approved by MOH to commence COVID-19 PCR testing and remains one of

the few high volume laboratories in Singapore supporting the collective

national effort for both COVID-19 PCR and Serology testing. For more

information, please go to www.parkwaylab.com.sg

About the Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub

The Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub is a national initiative in Singapore,

led by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).  The DxD Hub

aims to accelerate the transformation of innovations into clinically validated

diagnostic devices that are ready for market adoption.  Through impactful

products, empowering local enterprises and anchoring global companies in

Singapore, the DxD Hub contributes to the development of an effective

diagnostic devices ecosystem in Singapore.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead

public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our

partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and

society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap

between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs

for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare,

urban living, and sustainability.  A*STAR plays a key role in nurturing

scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry.

A*STAR's R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical sciences and

engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and

Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

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SOURCE:Genscript

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   Caption: GenScript Biotech Corporation, Parkway Laboratories and the Diagnostics

Development (DxD) Hub collaborate to provide the cPass(TM) SARS-CoV-2

neutralizing antibody test in Singapore.