The Roche company is now shipping its new corona antibody test, which was developed at its Penzberger biotechnology plant. Three million tests will be available nationwide in May. Roche also announced that it would invest 420 million euros in production and research.
Penzberg - Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn described the new antibody test on Monday as "an important new milestone in the fight against the virus". Spahn came to the biotechnology plant in Penzberg (Weilheim-Schongau district) with Prime Minister Markus Söder ("An important day in the fight against the pandemic") and Member of the Bundestag Alexander Dobrindt to visit the research and development laboratory for corona tests.
The new antibody test is intended to provide information about the actual status of the corona infections. Spahn pointed out that around 80 percent of infections were without symptoms. The test will become even more important as soon as there is more knowledge about immunity after infection, he said. According to Roche, this would help to return to normal. Spahn called the Penzberger Roche plant on Monday as an “Eldorado for diagnostic knowledge”. Prime Minister Söder highlighted the short time in which the test was developed: "I am very impressed, this is Champions League."
Roche plans to produce a total of 100 million antibody tests a month
The company said it will produce three million antibody tests for the German healthcare system in May. In the following months, the number is expected to increase to five million tests per month for Germany. Other countries should also benefit. According to CEO Christoph Franz, the total production for the global market will be 100 million tests per month, manufactured at the Roche locations in Penzberg and Mannheim. In the presence of Spahn and Söder, Roche also announced that it is investing 170 million euros in the expansion of biochemical production facilities in order to be able to produce the new antibody test in larger quantities.
Millions invested in setting up a research center for pandemics
At the same time, Roche announced that it plans to invest a further EUR 250 million in Penzberg over four years in the construction of a new research center for diagnostic tests. It should be a network with research institutes. Prime Minister Söder announced that the Free State would contribute 40 million euros to the center for infection and pandemic research. This is an investment in the future, he said. Because it is clear, says Söder, that there will always be challenges from such diseases in the coming years.
Blood test is done in laboratories on special equipment
The blood test developed in Penzberg for the detection of antibodies against Sars-CoV-2 has a completely new quality level, according to CEO Franz. According to the company, he can prove with almost 100 percent certainty whether a person was infected with the corona virus. Unlike other antibody tests, the test can differentiate whether there is an infection with another corona virus. The blood can be drawn from hospitals or medical practices for the tests. The blood is then analyzed in laboratories on special devices, of which there are around 2,000 in Germany. According to Roche, there are 40,000 such device systems worldwide.
Roche had already developed two tests for acute corona infections
Spahn said on Monday that basically everyone can have the test "if you pay for it" and "depending on availability". According to him, a law will be dealt with in the Bundestag this week to cover costs by statutory health insurance companies. Roche already launched two tests in January and March that detected acute corona infections. The feed materials and reagents are produced in the Penzberger plant for these tests.
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