Breakfast Briefing: Tuesday 21 March, 2006 at 9.00 am
Mall Room, Foreign Press Association, 11 Carlton House Terrace, London

The Swiss based Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and Biotec Laboratories Ltd. (UK) will announce the completion of the development of FASTPlaque-Response, a new diagnostic test for multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) that provides results in just two days, a significant improvement over conventional methods which take weeks to yield results.  The new test will be available at less than one tenth of the cost of the more technically demanding molecular tests, the only other type of rapid test for MDR-TB currently available on the market.  

The new test for rapid detection of MDR-TB, has been developed as part of a public/private collaboration with FIND, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation initiative, and Biotec Laboratories Ltd., a UK based developer of medical diagnostic tests. This test has recently been registered within Europe, and is in the process of being evaluated by FIND for use within the public heath sectors of high TB burden countries. 

MDR-TB is an increasing problem for effective TB control across the globe. Most recent data from WHO suggests that there are 450,000 new cases of MDR-TB each year. MDR-TB renders standard treatment ineffective and necessitates the use of longer, more toxic and more expensive treatments. Delayed detection of MDR-TB leads to a worse prognosis for the individual and an increased chance of transmission within the population.

Speakers include:
Dr Giorgio Roscigno, Chief Executive Officer, FIND
Dr Richard Mole, FASTPlaque Product Manager, Biotec Laboratories Ltd.  
Abigail Wright, Technical Officer, Emerging Public Health Risks including Drug Resistance, WHO

For more information, or to attend the event contact:

Katja Stout or Gemma Bradley

Northbank Communications

Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150

Email: g.bradley@northbankcommunications.com