The Eurofins Network Announces Availability of Real-Time PCR Assay for the Identification of the Mpox Virus (Formerly Monkeypox), as WHO Declares Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and Health Authorities Recommend Increased...

LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Eurofins (Paris:ERF):

The Eurofins Network Announces Availability of Real-Time PCR Assay for the Identification of the Mpox Virus (Formerly Monkeypox), as WHO Declares Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and Health Authorities Recommend Increased Testing

Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA), a global leader in bioanalytical testing, announces the availability of its innovative PCR assay for the simultaneous qualitative detection of the mpox virus and its differentiation from other viruses from the orthopox family (smallpox, cowpox, buffalopox, etc.) - the Mplex Mpox, Orthopox assay.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner has noted that the 2024 outbreak of mpox in several African countries, which WHO has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern¹, is likely to lead to “more sporadic imported cases to the European continent”², which will require monitoring, testing and diagnostics support.

Early detection, surveillance and data is essential to efficient infectious disease control. Mplex Mpox, Orthopox real-time PCR assay was developed by Gold Standard Diagnostics Frankfurt GmbH, part of the international network of Eurofins companies, in response to the 2022 mpox epidemic. The PCR assay has been evaluated and validated by the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) in Spain and the French National Reference Center (CNR-LE) and is immediately available as an RUO assay.

This 2024 outbreak is linked to the MPXV Clade I sublineage, a virus variant that carries a genome deletion affecting binding sites for primers and probes in certain real-time PCR assays, potentially leading to assay failure. The Gold Standard Diagnostics Mplex Mpox, Orthopox assay remains unaffected by this deletion based on bioinformatic analysis.

Eurofins is making this new assay available to its laboratories serving health authorities around the world where required and applicable and has set aside test kit contingents for donation to African countries’ health authorities who may need these tests.

About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins is Testing for Life. The Eurofins Scientific S.E. network of independent companies believes that it is a global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience contract research services. It is also one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in biopharma contract development and manufacturing. It also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.

With ca. 62,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of more than 900 laboratories in over 1,000 companies in 62 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of a wide range of products, as well as providing innovative clinical diagnostic testing services and in-vitro diagnostic products.

Eurofins companies’ broad range of services are important for the health and safety of people and our planet. The ongoing investment to become fully digital and maintain the best network of state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment supports our objective to provide our customers with high-quality services, innovative solutions and accurate results in the best possible turnaround time (TAT). Eurofins companies are well positioned to support clients’ increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the increasing demands of regulatory authorities as well as the evolving requirements of healthcare practitioners around the world.

The Eurofins network has grown very strongly since its inception and its strategy is to continue expanding its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, its companies draw on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer their clients unique analytical solutions.

Shares in Eurofins Scientific S.E. are listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0014000MR3, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP).

Until it has been lawfully made public widely by Eurofins Scientific S.E. through approved distribution channels, this document contains inside information for the purpose of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse, as amended.

Important disclaimer:

This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and estimates contained herein represent the judgment of Eurofins Scientific S.E.’s management as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. Eurofins Scientific S.E. disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements and estimates. All statements and estimates are made based on the information available to the Company’s management as of the date of publication, but no guarantees can be made as to their completeness or validity.

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¹ WHO declares mpox virus a public health emergency of international concern | UN News
² Mpox Africa Outbreak Needs More Testing, Europe CDC Chief Says - Bloomberg