Tübingen-based Synovo GmbH has implemented the CDC assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 – the agent causing the Covid-19 outbreak.
“We can now provide researchers and other professionals quantitative assays of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. We are now also developing assays for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 to estimate whether blood donors and other individuals have been exposed to the virus. These should be available in the coming weeks to support research into community wide immune status”, commented Michael Burnet, managing director of Synovo. In support of its Covid-19 profiling research, Synovo has also joined a European Consortium to develop a point of care assay for SARS-CoV-2, prognostic markers and antibodies to the virus. “While detection is important, especially early in disease, it needs to be paired with a therapeutic response. What we urgently need is accessible therapies that can be prescribed as soon as the virus is detected in a patient and which could prevent worsening of the disease and thus limit the need for ICU facilities” commented Dr. Burnet. In the context of therapeutics research, Synovo is applying for German Government funds to bring its candidate therapies to clinical trial. “SARS-CoV-2 was not a market for Pharmaceuticals in the past so all developments are the “redirection” of existing programs that are relevant to Covid-19. It is just as necessary to support these developments as it is vaccines” Said Dr. Burnet Synovo is building on its previous work in the context of Zika virus , pneumonia and inflammatory diseases .
Synovo is a drug discovery company based in Tübingen Germany. It was founded in 2004 and is focused on immune and inflammation-related diseases. It has 54 employees on two sites. It has extensive collaborations with European and international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and universities and public sector organisations.