Achiko develops DNA aptamer-based dengue fever test

Achiko, a healthtech company developing technologies that seek to deliver rapid, affordable diagnostic testing for COVID-19 and other pathogenic diseases has announced the development of a DNA aptamer-based dengue fever diagnostic test.

The Company previously received emergency use approval in Indonesia for its rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test AptameX integrated into a digital platform, Teman Sehat (“Health Buddy”), and has recently secured initial purchase orders. AptameX is based on aptamer technology, a synthetic (artificial) DNA that tightly binds to the spike protein (S1) on the virus’ surface, which is then targeted by the test.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection widespread throughout the tropics, particularly in the Americas, South East Asia and Western Pacific. There are four types of dengue, and while most conditions cause a mild flu-like illness, it can develop into severe dengue for which there is no treatment to date. According to WHO, dengue is endemic in over 100 countries and has slowly spread to new areas, including Europe, with an estimated 100-400 million infections worldwide each year. Of these, about 500,000 cases are life-threatening, with up to 25,000 deaths annually per the World Mosquito Program.

Steven Goh, CEO of Achiko, said: “The Company is gaining momentum in marketing its Covid-19 diagnostic. We are excited to initiate the development of our second diagnostic test with Teman Sehat as the foundation platform that will enhance the usability and service delivery of various diagnostic tests. There are parallels in the diagnostics of dengue and COVID-19 where RT-PCR and antigen tests are used to confirm current and past infections. We can apply the same science in isolating a dengue-relevant target protein using DNA aptamer technology to offer another affordable, non-invasive dengue diagnostic.

“Aptamers are known for their high affinity and specificity for their targets, making them a very effective diagnostic tool. Moreover, they cost only a fraction of what antibodies cost, which is an essential factor to consider in medical diagnostics. In recent decades, research and industry have focused primarily on antibodies which is now a $146 billion market. While aptamers have lagged behind antibodies, Achiko has seized this unique opportunity to be a market leader in aptamer diagnostics and we have additional promising diagnostic test products in the pipeline.”

Achiko expects to receive additional approval from Indonesia’s Ministry of Health later this month for its optimised second-generation AptameX Covid-19 diagnostic test kit with a simpler supply chain and streamlined test kit. An OEM manufacturer in Taiwan is in the process of being secured and the company is working on additional formats to AptameX beyond the colourimetric assay approach.

The CE Mark registration for AptameX is underway, and the company is working to have it completed in the next few months. Once received, the production model will be replicated in other countries, combining local suppliers for plastics and packaging and Taiwanese suppliers for reagent and UV-visible Spectrophotometers.

Goh added: “This isn’t just another antigen based rapid test platform, this is new chemistry with encouraging new results and opens the door to a structural advantage over any other COVID-19 diagnostic tests.”

Digital platform Teman Sehat will be integrated with telehealth platforms in other markets, allowing the Company to offer its diagnostic tests to new markets.