Omicron Breakthrough: ICMR Kit Can Detect New Variant In 2 Just Hours

Dibrugarh: In a timely breakthrough, the Indian Council of Medical Research – Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR-RMRC) centre in Assam’s Dibrugarh has developed a kit that can detect the Omicron variant of coronavirus within two hours.

A team of scientists, led by Dr Biswajit Borkakoty, developed the kit in 10 days after the genomic sequence of the COVID variant was released on November 25.

Dr Borkakoty said ICMR-RMRC Dibrugarh had designed the kit which is a real-time RT-PCR assay that will help detect the new variant within two hours.

It is a major development because currently it takes at least 36 hours to detect Omicron using the targeted sequencing, while 4-5 days are needed for the whole genome sequencing to detect the variant.

Dr Borkakoty informed that the newly developed kit has been found to be 100% accurate so far.

ICMR has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) kit manufacturers for undertaking transfer of technology for its development and commercialisation.

“ICMR, New Delhi, invites Expression of Interest (EOI) through email from experienced IVD kit manufacturers for undertaking transfer of technology for development and commercialisation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) Real time RT-PCR assay (RT-PCR) through a novel diagnostic kit, developed by ICMR,” the Expression of Interest invitation document stated.

“ICMR is the owner of the said technology, including any underlying intellectual property(ies) and commercialisation rights. ICMR is lawfully entitled to enter into any form of non-exclusive license agreements with selected manufacturer/manufacturers, including transfer of technology through suitable agreement to any other interested manufacturers.”

Once an agreement is struck, ICMR informed it will grant a non-exclusive license to the manufacturer, a royalty bearing right and license to use and practice the technology and process to manufacture, sell and commercialise the product, including a non-exclusive right to manufacture, sell and market products worldwide and the right to use licensed technology for manufacturing products worldwide.

The agreement will be executed on “non-exclusive” basis with multiple manufacturers, the document said.