Tosoh Corporation is developing a test reagent to detect antibodies related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the strain of coronavirus responsible for the novel coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. The company is striving for a rapid, high-sensitivity reagent based on unique single test cup and lyophilizing technology characteristic of the company’s immunoassay test reagents, specifically for its AIA-CL series of fully automated chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay analyzer. The company aims for a simple, high-throughput means of detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies utilizing the AIA-CL series analyzers in combination with the reagent it has under development.

To date, Tosoh has developed fully automated immunoassay test systems characterized by a proprietary single test cup and provided more than 60 tests menus worldwide. It is working to complete development of the new reagent at the earliest possible date by leveraging its accumulated technologies and know-how. It is joined in this effort by Yokohama City University and Kanto Chemical Co., Inc.

Research from two professors underpins the joint effort to develop a test reagent to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on the fully automated chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay analyzers. The work of a research team led by Akihide Ryo, a professor in the Microbiology Department of Yokohama City University’s Association of Medical Science resulted in an antivirus antibody detection method. And a report issued from a professor and principal researcher Takeharu Yamanaka of the Biostatistics Department of the Association of Medical Science at Yokohama City University titled, “Development of a fully automated high-throughput immunodiagnostic system for novel coronavirus antibody detection and research toward making this detection system available to the public,” which was adopted by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) as part of its research projects as countermeasures against infectious diseases such as viruses for fiscal 2020.

Tosoh, meanwhile, also continues to pursue the development of a viral genetic test kit for the novel coronavirus. It employs the transcription reverse transcription concerted (TRC) reaction method. The company’s aim is to take it to market as an in vitro diagnostic medical device. Tosoh has called for the cooperation of various concerned parties with the aim of making it available as early as possible as a countermeasure against the global public health issue caused by the novel coronavirus.