AmPORE-TB has been launched by Oxford Nanopore and bioMérieux
Oxford Nanopore Technologies, providers of a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology, and bioMérieux, specialists in the field of in vitro diagnostics, have launched AmPORE-TB, a Research Use Only (RUO) solution for the rapid characterisation of mutations associated with antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, utilising sequencing technology from Oxford Nanopore.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers tuberculosis (TB) to be the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, despite it being preventable and treatable. Multidrug-resistant TB affects around 400,000 people annually and can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality.
To address this public health issue, WHO highlights the need for rapid, reliable antimicrobial susceptibility testing and has recommended targeted DNA sequencing, with AmPORE-TB among three targeted methods meeting the class-based performance criteria for detecting AMR gene mutations.
Only available for research, AmPORE-TB is a solution that utilises Oxford Nanopore’s benchtop, dedicated GridION device to characterise 24 TB-resistant genes and produces results within the same day. With built-in software, the solution automates data analysis and reporting. The WHO recognition underscores the significance of the AmPORE-TB technology, which can provide rapid, high-resolution insights into the genetic makeup of drug-resistant TB.
The solution is developed and manufactured by Oxford Nanopore and distributed by bioMérieux. AmPORE-TB is set to be initially launched in regions with the highest need and where it can add the most value.
Gordon Sanghera, CEO, Oxford Nanopore, said, “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, bioMérieux, said, “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.”
