Our News Bureau – Mumbai
XCyton Diagnostics has recently launched Syndrome Evaluation System (SES), a diagnostic tool which can simultaneously identify the root cause of the infection, address whether the organism is bacterial, viral or fungal, and provide a genomic break-up of drug resistance.
XCyton’s SES allows for the immediate identification of multiple organisms inclusive of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, in a specific test from a single sample. This process provides the clinician with a fast, definitive assessment of a patient who is presenting a set of symptoms common to multiple pathogens.
Dr BV Ravi Kumar, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, XCyton Diagnostics said, “My belief that lives can be saved and disabilities can be prevented if the diagnosis is made early during the infection led to the creation of SES. It is inhuman not to apply available scientific knowledge to counter oppressive illnesses. In life style diseases, people can take complete control of their health. In case of infections it is not possible. I empathize with that fact.”
Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon has personally invested in XCyton. She believes that molecular diagnostics is the medical technology of the future and development of SES is a significant milestone in the history of molecular diagnostics.
Shaw said, “XCyton’s syndrome evaluation diagnostics is a uniquely differentiated platform that will provide a novel way of rapidly diagnosing critical care infections and provide superior treatment outcomes. This is yet another approach to personalised medicine that is a very sought after space where X-cyton is an early entrant from India. I am indeed proud to be an early stage investor and I am excited with the prospects that such a business has in the rapidly evolving space of companion diagnostics and personalised medicine.”
During the clinical trials, XCyton partnered with several institutes across the country. XCyton Diagnostics developed the SES for AES, Sepsis, Antibiotic Resistance and Eye infections in collaboration with other institutes and the effort was supported by a financial loan from Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under New Millennium Indian Technological Leadership Initiative (NMITLI). For AES or Encephalitis, XCyton collaborated with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), for Sepsis with Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), St John’s Medical College and Sankarnetralya and antibiotic resistance was done by XCyton. Eye infections were done in collaboration with CCMB, Sankarnetralya, LV Prasad Eye Institute and All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
XCyton has also tied up with Fidelity Growth Partners India (FGPI) which is the India focused private equity arm of Fidelity Worldwide Investment. XCyton is Fidelity’s first life sciences investment in India. XCyton’s innovative SES platform has the potential to bring in a global health care reform and Fidelity plans to champion this reform as the equity partner.