FIND and Unitaid launch Call for Expressions of Interest to Accelerate Availability and Manufacturing Scale-up of Rapid Diagnostic Tests for COVID-19

Deadline: 24-Jul-20

The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and Unitaid announced today that the organizations have launched a call for expressions of interest (EOI) to accelerate the availability and manufacturing scale-up of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens (Ag RDTs).

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This EOI aims to fill current diagnostic gaps in the detection of active SARS-CoV-2 infection for case management and contact tracing purposes in decentralized settings. In this context, a test that detects the virus in a user-friendly, field-appropriate format is desirable. While both point-of-care nucleic acid testing platforms and Ag RDTs would be appropriate in these settings, this call is focussed on accelerating supply and availability of quality-assured and regulatory-approved fit-for-purpose Ag RDTs.
The ACT-Accelerator Diagnostics Pillar (ACT-A Dx) will engage end-to-end, from the development and deployment process to driving access to these fit-for-purpose Ag RDTs. This will include accelerating development, facilitating regulatory approvals, and increasing production capacity, addressing supply chain challenges, establishing mechanisms (such as volume guarantees) to de-risk the market, and strengthening local capacity for development and deployment of new tests within national testing strategies. This EOI is just one of several mechanisms being developed by ACT-A Dx, and is focused on the downstream activities of product development and manufacturing scale-up.
Proposals and business partnerships are sought in two areas:
Accelerating development and market entry of improved, quality-assured SARS-CoV-2 Ag RDTs for expanded use in LMICs
Rapidly creating the supply conditions (manufacturing capacity, diversity of supplier base, affordability) to meet the needs of LMICs
Funding Information
An initial budget envelope of up to US$40 million of grant funding, to be made available by FIND and Unitaid and supplemented by loan funding from development banks, could support at least 2–4 proposals that offer best value for money.
Criteria
Proposals are sought from innovators, RDT developers, IVD manufacturers, and LMIC-based diagnostic stakeholders interested in:
Expanding their own production capacity, with commitment to LMIC supply
Supporting geographic diversification of manufacturing in one or more LMIC regions with local partnerships, including (but not limited to) contract manufacturing for open-label products
Partnering with readily available high-quality manufacturing capacity globally, or offering their own excess production capacity to other developers
Licensing and/or technology transfer
For more information, visit https://unitaid.org/news-blog/find-and-unitaid-launch-call-for-expression-of-interest-to-accelerate-availability-and-manufacturing-scale-up-of-rapid-diagnostic-tests-for-covid-19/