Fapon, LASCCO, abionic formed strategic collaboration for PSP sepsis diagnosis in China

Fapon, a leading life sciences company, entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with two Swiss biotech companies LASCCO SA and Abionic SA, that granted Fapon an exclusive license to utilize the pancreatic stone protein (PSP) biomarker for sepsis diagnosis in China. This strategic partnership will enable Fapon to engage in the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of PSP raw materials and chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA)-based reagent solutions within the Chinese market. PSP, as a reliable biomarker to predict sepsis, has been patented in many countries. The PSP immunoassay has obtained CE mark approval under the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDR) regulations, Australian registration, and FDA 510(k) clearance is expected in 2024. By leveraging their respective expertise in technology, medicine and market, the three companies will join forces in the rapid screening and clinical diagnosis of sepsis, as well as providing guidelines for antibiotic use.

This strategic partnership will usher in a significant breakthrough in the medical field, removing barriers to early sepsis diagnosis. Performing PSP testing on high-risk individuals can flag potential sepsis before the onset of clinical symptoms. Early detection enables timely intervention and treatment, leading to reduced risks of organ dysfunction, improved survival rates, and optimized allocation of medical resources.

Sepsis a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, which can progress to multiple organ dysfunction, septic shock and even death. Research shows that every hour of delay in the administration of antibiotics increases the chances of mortality by 7% to 10% ^[1]. However, the early warning signs and symptoms of sepsis, such as fever, chills, nausea, fatigue, pain, etc., are generic and non-specific, making it extremely challenging to differentiate sepsis from other conditions. Currently, the diagnosis of sepsis in clinical practice often relies on either "infection/suspected infection + scoring systems (qSOFA/SOFA/NEWS)" or the detection of biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP). However, these methods cannot meet the clinical needs for early diagnosis of sepsis as they have major limitations.

PSP, an acute-phase reactant, is secreted by pancreatic acinar cells. Its level is closely associated with the presence and severity of sepsis. Sufficient evidence has shown that PSP exhibits great accuracy as an early warning sign of sepsis. The PSP level in the blood shows a significant upward trend three days prior to the clinical diagnosis of sepsis^[2,3]. Even in inflammatory confounding situations such as sterile inflammation and inhalation injury in burnt patients or post-trauma and post-surgery inflammatory host responses, PSP is able to specifically recognize disease regardless of other inflammatory factors^[4,5]. Therefore, PSP is a reliable early marker of sepsis. Moreover, the use of rapid point-of-care (POC) tests to measure PSP levels presents a significant advantage for patients who need intensive sepsis risk management. By quickly delivering accurate results, this POC test empowers physicians to promptly start appropriate treatments, ultimately increasing patient survival rates.

Fapon is dedicated to advancing the discovery and research of innovative biomarkers, with the goal of accelerating the transition of such markers to clinical applications. Obtaining the PSP license for the diagnosis of sepsis will further enhance Fapon's potential for innovative applications in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. PSP has been widely acclaimed by physicians and patients across the United States, Europe, Australia, Switzerland, and other countries. Through this partnership, Fapon will promptly bring to market PSP raw materials and reagent solutions for CLIA platforms. The objective is to contribute to the early screening of sepsis and developing more clinical applications, and offer swifter and improved solutions to septic patients in China.

Committed to bringing earlier, more accurate, more convenient, and more accessible innovative diagnostic applications to the IVD industry and patients, Fapon is making every effort to develop a one-stop biomarker solution for neurology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, obstetrics, metabolism, and oncology.

Reference:

^[1] Kumar A, et al. Initiation of inappropriate antimicrobial therapy results in a fivefold reduction of survival in human septic shock. Chest. 2009 Nov;136(5):1237-1248.

^[2] Niggemann P, et al. Incidence and Time Point of Sepsis Detection as Related to Different Sepsis Definitions in Severely Burned Patients and Their Accompanying Time Course of Pro-Inflammatory Biomarkers. J Pers Med. 2021 Jul 23;11(8):701.

^[3] Klein HJ, et al. Pancreatic Stone Protein Predicts Sepsis in Severely Burned Patients Irrespective of Trauma Severity: A Monocentric Observational Study. Ann Surg. 2021 Dec 1;274(6):e1179-e1186.

^[4] Klein HJ, et al. Expression of Pancreatic Stone Protein is Unaffected by Trauma and Subsequent Surgery in Burn Patients. World J Surg. 2020 Sep;44(9):3000-3009.

^[5] Gukasjan R, et al. Pancreatic stone protein predicts outcome in patients with peritonitis in the ICU. Crit. Care Med 2013 Apr;41(4):1027-36.