ICMR Licenses EnViro-Q PCR Kit to Molbio Diagnostics for Enteric Virus Detection

The EnViro-Q real-time RT-PCR assay, developed by ICMR, enables cost-effective, rapid, and accurate diagnosis of multiple enteric viruses, offering a breakthrough in managing childhood gastroenteritis globally

– Diarrhea is the third largest cause of childhood mortality globally as enteric viruses are responsible for =40% cases of childhood diarrhea.

2nd December 2024, Bengaluru – The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed a technology transfer agreement with Molbio Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., licensing the commercialization of EnViro-Q, India’s first multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for detecting enteric viruses. Developed by ICMR’s institute, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), Kolkata, this breakthrough diagnostic tool addresses a critical gap in managing viral gastroenteritis in children.

Through this collaboration, Molbio Diagnostics aims to make EnViro-Q accessible worldwide, particularly in public health sectors, under a revenue-sharing model with ICMR. EnViro-Q will be made available at a cost-effective price, particularly for the public sector.

As one of the leading causes of childhood mortality, viral gastroenteritis has posed persistent diagnostic challenges. Existing methods often misidentify viral infections as bacterial, leading to the irrational use of antibiotics. EnViro-Q, with comparable sensitivity and specificity to commercial imported assays, offers reliable results within 2-2.5 hours, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.

“We are honoured to collaborate with the Indian Council of Medical Research on making EnViro-Q available worldwide, as it addresses a critical gap in diagnostics for childhood gastroenteritis,” said Shiva Sriram, President, Business Development at Molbio Diagnostics. “This innovative solution enables accurate, rapid, and affordable detection of enteric viruses, significantly reducing misdiagnosis and unnecessary antibiotic usage. We are committed to making healthcare accessible worldwide and are confident that EnViro-Q will play a transformative role in improving patient outcomes across diverse healthcare settings globally.”

“The development of EnViro-Q represents a milestone in our mission to advance diagnostic technologies that meet the specific health challenges faced in India and beyond,” stated Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, ICMR. “By equipping healthcare providers with a reliable, multi-virus detection tool, we are addressing one of the leading causes of childhood mortality. Our non-exclusive collaboration with Molbio Diagnostics will help us bring this essential tool to the global market as it emphasizes our commitment to enhancing public health through accessible and impactful solutions.”

By providing an effective method to detect co-infections and prevent repeated testing, EnViro-Q is poised to greatly enhance diagnostic capabilities in primary healthcare settings.