Sensortec Ltd is in the middle of product development and commercialisation of a novel electrochemical biosensor for use initially in clinical diagnostics and residue testing. We already have two industrial partners and are now seeking further partnerships specifically for relevant assay transfer to the platform.

Applications

The technology is applicable to the rapid quantitative detection at low levels (ppt) of a wide range of analytes, inter alia; drugs, toxins, contaminants, infectious diseases, nucleic acids, microbes and cells. The near-term application for the technology will be in the development of a simple point-of-use system for detection of contaminants such Aflatoxin’s in milk, grain or feed. This product is anticipated to be available for market validation at the end of 2006. A longer term project is in the development of a POC system for multianalyte clinical diagnostics to replace central laboratories with distributive testing.

Competitive Edge

The company's unique technology will allow the development of detection products that are cheaper and more effective than those of competitors, and that permit more rapid turn around and decision making as well as electronic tracking and auditing of the results for future analysis.

Partnering Opportunities

The company is open to many forms of investment:

• equity deals,
• licensing deals,
• joint venture and partnership arrangements,
• feasibility studies
• others

Sensortec would be pleased to open discussions with interested parties. These parties are envisaged to include not only providers of capital, but also companies that may have an interest in co-developing this technology for their particular market sector or requirements. It should be emphasised that the relatively short time-to-market and uncomplicated development path of the company's lead product indicates that this investment is uniquely low-risk and high-reward.

Sensortec Limited has globally competitive IPR in conducting polymer based potentiometric biosensors. Sensortec Limited's proprietary technology enables quantitative detection of specific analytes (e.g. proteins, drugs, and contaminants) in complex fluids with minimal sample preparation. These biosensors can be commercialised within a broad range of markets in the Life Science sector (e.g. pharmaceutical, clinical/veterinary diagnostics, environmental monitoring and food quality assurance).

Potential uses in the Food and Environmental industries include:

• Toxins, contaminants, drug metabolites or other small molecule (limited by Ab specificity)
• Enzyme assays
• Nucleic acid contaminants
• Microbiological assays

Potential uses in the Pharmaceutical industry include:

• Drug discovery using cell analysis similar to the procedures used by LAPS Devices (e.g. Cytometer, Molecular Devices, cell acidification assays).
• Clinical trials, where compliance, uptake or efficacy (disease state monitoring) can be assessed.

Sensortec Limited aims, to commercialise the intellectual property by corporate partnerships with instrument manufacturers, end users and market leaders in the respective fields of application.

We have already licensed the technology for use in clinical and veterinary diagnostics, and residues in food and feed. We have taken equity stakes in one partner and are forming a JV in the US with another. These two projects involve a joint development of the product using our preferred contractor Universal Sensors Ltd and include:

• Development of a point-of-care instrument for analyses of clinical parameters in blood or urine,
• Detection of Aflatoxin’s in milk and cereal products.

The aim for Sensortec Limited is to have a platform technology that can cope with the majority of tests performed in the environmental, food and drink industries (e.g. immunoassays, cell assays, enzyme-based assays and Nucleic acid assays (GMO testing)). The availability of these instruments and tests will enable Sensortec Limited to pursue further feasibility studies and corporate deals with companies having market presence in the clinical, veterinary, pharmaceutical and research sectors.

Partnerships are sought to provide complementary technologies, assays and additional functionality to enhance the current offering significantly.

Assays which produce changes in pH, Redox or ionic strength close to the sensor surface will give a measurable signal. These include ELISA, enzyme assays, nucleic acid assays, cell based assays, ion selective assays etc