VolitionRx Expands Patent Portfolio with Ebola Triage Application
VolitionRx has filed a patent for using its Nu.Q technology to triage and monitor potential Ebola patients, aiming to provide low-cost bedside testing in resource-limited outbreak zones.
VolitionRx Limited (NYSE American: VNRX) announced the filing of a strategic patent application covering the use of its proprietary Nu.Q technology for triaging and monitoring patients suspected of having contracted the Ebola virus. The application builds on the company’s existing Nu.Q NETs test, which measures circulating nucleosomes and neutrophil extracellular traps as early indicators of hyper-inflammation associated with septic shock and mortality.
According to Volition, its CE-Marked automated Nu.Q NETs assay and recently developed finger-prick lateral flow detection prototype could provide a low-cost bedside triage solution during Ebola outbreaks, particularly in resource-constrained regions. The company is seeking partnerships with global health organizations, pharmaceutical developers, NGOs and distribution partners to support field trials, manufacturing scale-up and potential deployment in outbreak zones.
The implications of this announcement are significant. Ebola outbreaks often occur in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure, where rapid diagnosis and triage are critical to controlling the spread of the virus and allocating scarce medical resources. Current diagnostic methods can be expensive, require laboratory equipment, or take hours to return results. A low-cost, rapid, bedside test could dramatically improve outbreak response, enabling healthcare workers to quickly identify infected individuals and isolate them, potentially saving lives and reducing transmission.
Volition’s Nu.Q technology targets nucleosomes and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are released during hyper-inflammatory responses seen in severe infections like Ebola. This approach could differentiate between Ebola and other febrile illnesses common in outbreak regions, such as malaria or typhoid, reducing the burden on overstretched health systems. The finger-prick lateral flow prototype is designed for ease of use, similar to a pregnancy test, making it deployable by minimally trained personnel.
The company’s focus on Ebola triage also highlights the broader potential of its technology for other infectious diseases and conditions associated with NETosis, such as sepsis. If successful, this platform could be adapted for future outbreaks, enhancing global pandemic preparedness.
Volition is a multinational company focused on advancing the science of epigenetics. Its research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and an office in London. For further information, visit the company’s website at https://volition.com/.
To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/UOWP1.