Oxford Nanopore and bioMérieux launch AmPORE-TB, a Research Use Only sequencing-based solution to rapidly characterise drug resistant-tuberculosis
Oxford Nanopore Technologies, the company delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology, and bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, have announced the launch of AmPORE-TB, a Research Use Only* (RUO) solution for the rapid characterisation of mutations associated with antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology.
While preventable and treatable, the World Health Organization considers tuberculosis (TB) the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agenti. Multidrug-resistant TB affects about 400,000 people annually and increases risk of morbidity and mortalityii.
To address this public health crisis, WHO points out the need for rapid, reliable antimicrobial susceptibility tests. WHO has recommended targeted DNA sequencing, with AmPORE-TB named as one of three targeted methods meeting the class-based performance criteria for the detection of AMR gene mutationsiii.
Available for research use only, AmPORE-TB is a complete solution, which uses Oxford Nanopore’s benchtop dedicated GridION device to characterise 24 TB-resistant genes and provides comprehensive results within the same day. With its built-in software, the solution provides automated data analysis and reporting. The WHO recognition underscores the importance of the AmPORE-TB technology, which can provide rapid, high-resolution insights into the genetic makeup of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
The solution is designed and manufactured by Oxford Nanopore and distributed by bioMérieux**. AmPORE-TB is expected to be launched first in the regions with the highest need and where it can add the most value, including low- and middle-income countries, where 99% of new cases occuriv .
Gordon Sanghera, CEO, Oxford Nanopore, stated: "We are proud to partner with bioMérieux in the launch of AmPORE-TB, a significant step forward in the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis. With the support of bioMérieux’s expertise and global distribution network, we aim to bring this critical technology to the regions where it is needed most, arming specialists with the information they need to make fast, informed decisions."
Jennifer Zinn, Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations, bioMérieux, added: “This partnership with Oxford Nanopore marks an exciting step forward in our mission to deliver faster, more accessible, and effective diagnostic solutions around the globe, through our large, high-performing distribution network. By combining bioMérieux’s more than 60 years of expertise in infectious disease diagnostics with Oxford Nanopore’s cutting-edge sequencing technology, AmPORE-TB has the potential to empower informed decision-making in the detection and management of tuberculosis resistance — helping improve patient outcomes, particularly in under-served communities, and advance the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.”
*Research Use Only (RUO) products are a distinct category of in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) exclusively tailored for laboratory research.
**bioMérieux will not distribute the solution in the United States.
