Baltimore, MD – August 22, 2012 — Fyodor Biotechnologies, a Baltimore-based diagnostic and biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the National Science Foundation has awarded the company a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant. With the $150,000 funding, Fyodor plans to develop a novel recombinant antibody to be used in a urine-based test for the point-of-need detection of Leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is a worldwide, potentially serious but treatable bacterial disease that occurs in humans and domestic animals, including pets. The causative bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water (including swimming pools) or soil, and can survive there for weeks to months. Clinical signs of leptospirosis are nonspecific, and current diagnostic tools rely on complicated testing methods that are unsuitable for use in many point- of-need settings. Therefore, a simple one-step test is urgently needed for rapid diagnosis.
“We are very pleased to receive this award from the National Science Foundation, which is an affirmation of the novelty of Fyodor’s strategy,” said Eddy Agbo, DVM, PhD, Chairman & CEO of Fyodor Biotechnologies. “We will use the funds to develop novel antibodies against unique urine-secreted Leptospira proteins, which will be incorporated into our diagnostic test platform technology – the current basis of Fyodor’s Urine Malaria Test (UMT), for the diagnosis of leptospirosis and some other diseases that cause fever”. Fever is a classical sign of many debilitating diseases, including malaria and leptospirosis. A simple tool for effective, timely and specific diagnosis of patients with fever is critical. A urine-based diagnostic test for the rapid diagnosis of leptospirosis as envisaged in this project will be an important addition to the global healthcare regimen.
About Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is considered the most common global zoonotic disease in the world, that is, it can be transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to man. It has recently been recognized as a re-emerging infectious disease among animals and humans, and is most common in tropical and subtropical areas with high rainfall. Though considered significantly under-reported, the World Health Organization and the International Leptospirosis Society estimate incidence to range from 0.1-1 per 100,000 in temperate climates to 10-100 per 100,000 cases per year in humid climates.
About Fyodor Biotechnologies, Inc
Founded in 2008, Fyodor Biotechnologies is focused on the research, development and manufacture of innovative diagnostic and biopharmaceutical products targeted to global health diseases. We identify novel biotechnologies that have compelling relevance to global health diseases and translate them into tangible simple-to-use products. Fyodor’s flagship product is the Urine Malaria Test – a one-step test for at-home or point-of-need diagnosis of clinical malaria in persons with fever.
About the National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget is $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards nearly $420 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
Contact:
Fyodor Biotechnologies, Inc.
443-552-0437
Anne Derrick – VP, Business Development and Operations
anne.derrick@fyodorbio.com
www.fyodorbio.com
