How has the molecular diagnostics market evolved in the last decade?

Conventionally, the power of molecular diagnostics has not been harnessed much. With the emergence of COVID-19, the need for molecular diagnostics has been recognised and grown significantly in the last year with an eruption in healthcare requirements. Also, as the demand increased for Made in India products, it has motivated multiple organisations like us to use our expertise in molecular diagnostics and expand the portfolio into IVD manufacturing.

What has been the contribution of Genes2me in its fight against COVID-19?

Genes2Me has been able to develop several IVD kits for COVID-19 detection in a quick turnaround time. This includes Real-Time PCR Kits, RNA Extraction Kits, VTM Kit, NGS Kits and multiplexed genotyping assays for COVID-19. These IVD kits have proven to be highly sensitive with the capability of delivering faster results without any compromise inaccuracy. The ViralDtect-II Real-Time PCR Kit for COVID-19 has been a game-changer which was the first Made in India Real-Time PCR Kit with superior coverage of three genes specific to SARS-COV-2. Also, the scale of IVD kit manufacturing has been ramped up to global standards which have ensured timely delivery of these kits to almost every Indian State and ICMR.

What are the future growth plans of the company in the next five years?

We aim to leverage the large installed base of molecular testing platforms across the globe. We have been able to develop numerous panels for infectious diseases, oncology and reproductive health in India. Most of these test panels (like for malaria, dengue, HBV, HCV, HIV, etc.) have been dependent on import from other countries. Similarly, we are also working to develop diverse nucleic acid research and diagnostics solutions along with NGS reagents for genome sequencing under the Make in India initiative. These solutions are again dependent on import from different nations. Genes2Me have also developed the most advanced high throughput Real-Time PCR testing Lab of North India at Gurgaon, Haryana with an un-matched capacity to perform 8K-10K tests per day.

What will be the new launches by Genes2me? How will Genes2Me drive innovations in the diagnostics space?

Genes2Me is aggressively working to launch an innovative, easy use, self-testing Kit for COVID-19. The objective is to allow an individual to easily get COVID-19 Test Results at Home and simultaneously provide the same data to ICMR. Also, as mentioned previously, Genes2Me is working to launch numerous IVD kits for infectious diseases, oncology and reproductive health along with different nucleic acid R&D solutions and NGS reagents for genome sequencing under the Make in India initiative. In line to develop innovative genetic solutions, recently Genes2Me has also developed a Unique Mutation Classifier panel that can quickly identify and differentiate 40 variants between 16 SARS-CoV-2 strains addressing key challenges of NGS in mass testing.

Any new tie-ups in the offing with the government for COVID-related tests?

We are working to collaborate with the government for taking above mentioned mutation classifier panel of SARS-COV-2 to the masses so that we all can be better prepared to face challenges posed by this deadly virus due to its frequently changing genetic makeup.

Genes2me team has delivered more than 40 million COVID-19 testing kits till date and also recently during the second wave of COVID-19 infection have further scaled up their manufacturing facility from 9million/month to 6 million/week in order to meet sudden demand surge. Genes2Me has contributed almost >20 per cent of the entire Indian testing needs for RT-PCR during this time.

Sanjiv Das

(sanjiv.das@mmactiv.com)