Pharmaceutical company Cipla has collaborated with Ubio Technologies Biotechnology Systems, a diagnostics devices manufacturer, to launch a polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Covid-19 test kit called the ViraGen in India. The test kit is expected to be commercially available to consumers on 15 May 2021. This is Cipla’s third Covid-19 testing kit, while the company has already struck deals for antibody detection kit and antigen test kits.

XPhyto Therapeutics has announced that its logistics, distribution, and storage partner, Max Pharma will make the company’s 25-minute rapid point-of-care Covid-19 RT-PCR test system (Covid-ID Lab) available for purchase in Germany on 25 May. The test is registered under the European Union (EU) as a commercial in vitro diagnostic (CE-IVD) test.

Achiko’s biotechnology division announced that it has completed the production of its first batch of 1,000 AptameX Covid-19 diagnostic test kits and has already begun shipping the kits to Indonesia. The company claims AptameX delivers a sensitivity of 77% at a high industry CT score of 28.3, is still highly sensitive at low viral loads. The company is moving to complete product registration in Indonesia and is focused at securing a CE Mark in Europe.