The Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche has developed three tests for research on the Omicron variant that provide tools to differentiate its different mutations, he announced on Friday.
Developed by its new subsidiary TIB Molbiol, of which it recently finalized the acquisition, these tests provide researchers with new tools to assess the circulation of variants but also to study their potential impact on therapies and vaccines, indicates the Swiss group in a press release. .
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"
The TIB Molbiol teams have worked against time since this new variant emerged,
" said Thomas Schinecker, director of the Diagnostics division, quoted in the press release, in order to develop tests that "
help to better understand its spread and behavior
”. "
There is still so much to learn about Omicron,
" he added, stressing that it was "
crucial
" to identify this variant "
quickly and precisely
" in order to aid ongoing research.
The world number one in oncology, Roche also relies on a large division specializing in diagnostic tools.
At the very start of the Covid-19 pandemic, its German partner TIB Molbiol quickly developed a first test intended for research before the Swiss group then developed a wide range of tests that could be used on a large scale, ranging from PCR tests , antigenic to tests to distinguish Covid-19 from influenza.
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TIB Molbiol had developed a test for research on the new coronavirus in January 2020, just days after it was first sequenced.
In September, Roche announced the takeover of this Berlin-based German biotechnology company with which it has worked for more than 20 years, without however disclosing the amount of the transaction.
Its buyout was finalized on December 1.
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