US based Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company with a unique, patented platform for the development of molecular diagnostic tests, announced on 19 March that Ahmedabad based CoSara Diagnostics Pvt Ltd, its joint venture for manufacturing in India, has received a license from the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) to manufacture RT-PCR COVID-19 test kits. The kits are expected to be sold in the Indian market, as well as for export to the surrounding regions.

CoSara has aligned itself with the “Make in India” initiative introduced in 2014 to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub, and senior officials from the health department expedited the approval process for the license. 

The COVID-19 test kits approved by the CDSCO were those originally designed by Co-Diagnostics, the first U.S. company to receive a CE marking for a COVID-19 diagnostic. “The high-quality tests built on our patented CoPrimer™ technology will have a positive impact on what is projected to be the largest healthcare market in the world,” said Dwight Egan, CEO of Co-Diagnostics. “Co-Diagnostics is honored that our joint venture has achieved such a significant milestone.”

Mohal Sarabhai, Director of CoSara, remarked “Presently there are 52 government-approved testing facilities and delivering the kits to those is the first target,” in addition to pursuing 60 accredited private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests. “Overall, our target market will be private as well as government labs.”