We were delighted to see BIVDA members recognised at the awarding of the Longitude Prize for AMR last week, with Sysmex prevailing as winners while Llusern Scientific were runners-up.
The Prize was initiated ten years ago to encourage the development of a new diagnostic test capable of identifying bacterial infections within minutes and determining the appropriate antibiotic to prescribe, aiming to curb the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections that claim over a million lives annually.
Sysmex’s winning entry was the PA-100 AST System by Sysmex Astrego AB, which can detect a bacterial infection in just 15 minutes and recommend the most effective antibiotic in 45 minutes with a small sample of urine. Attendees stated that introducing the system would revolutionise patient care in the UK.
Mikael Olsson, co-founder of Sysmex Astrego, stated that while the system was being introduced in Europe, the prize money would be used to reduce manufacturing costs and drive work in African countries.
Wales-based Llusern Scientific’s runner-up near-patient test rapidly detects pathogens in UTIs, allowing clinicians to make better informed decisions which aid antimicrobial stewardship. The company’s Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Emma Hayhurst, spoke to the Financial Times following the ceremony.
Speaking about their awards success, Alister Cracknell Senior Business Unit Manager – Urinalysis at Sysmex said, “Sysmex UK are incredibly proud that the Sysmex Astrego PA-100 AST System has won the £8m Longitude Prize on AMR to support transforming the fight against superbugs.
“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) killed nearly 1.3 million people globally in 2019 and is on course to cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050.
“Following a decade of developments, and entries from more than 250 teams around the world, Challenge Works announced the £8m Longitude Prize on AMR to Sysmex Astrego, Live on the BBC One Show.
“Sysmex UK have been working over the last year to support study groups in testing the PA-100 system across Primary Care GP settings for the first time globally and, as a BIVDA member, will remain engaged in BIVDA’s efforts to advocate for increased diagnostic use in the UK as a tool to tackle AMR.
“We’re now very excited to bring the product to the market where it can really make a difference in both fighting AMR and transforming people’s lives.”
