Rapid test for gonorrhoea and chlamydia receives $1.8m backing

CARB-X is awarding SpeeDx, a diagnostics company in Sydney, Australia, up to $1.8 million to develop a rapid test for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, sexually transmitted bacteria that can cause serious infections.

SpeeDx is also eligible for $1.9 million in additional funds from CARB-X if the project achieves certain milestones, subject to available funds. 

SpeeDx has developed a rapid, molecular test using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology called InSignia, that is able to identify whether an active infection is associated with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Additionally, through susceptibility testing, the technology will identify the best-available antibiotic choice for treatment of gonorrhoea. SpeeDx’s technology would be combined with a battery-powered device developed by another company, QuantuMDx, that could be used in remote or low-resource settings around the world as a point-of-care diagnostic. The SpeeDx technology would be ported onto the QuantuMDx Q-POC. 

The goal is to develop an affordable test, rapid (60 minutes) that will both detect the causative bacteria and identify which antibiotic — from among orally administered antibiotics that are generally readily available in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) — is best for treating the infection. 

Erin Duffy, R&D chief of CARB-X, said: “SpeeDx’s technology is in the early stages of development and, if successful, could be used to help health-care providers rapidly diagnose chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and to identify antibiotics that could be effective, thus improving treatment decisions, and mitigating the devastating effects of these diseases.

“Treating gonorrhoea is increasingly challenging, and in some cases not possible because Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhoea, has developed resistance to most existing antibiotics. Faster diagnostics have the potential to help inform treatment decisions, and those diagnostics that can be deployed in low-resource settings are sorely needed.” 

Colin Denver, SpeeDx CEO, added: “We are adapting our recently developed InSignia technology in close collaboration with QuantuMDx with a goal to supply affordable and innovative diagnostics, and significantly improve the standard of care and antibiotic stewardship in the management of sexually transmitted infections. The support from CARB-X for this venture will help accelerate this development and extend access in critical need areas.” 

Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, often referred to as “super gonorrhoea”, are bacteria identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “high priority” pathogens and are classified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an “urgent” public health threat that requires aggressive action. Rapid detection of infection and antibiotic-resistance are key to improving patient outcomes and curbing the spread of disease and bacteria.