Partners with startup HaystackAnalytics
Metropolis Healthcare has launched NEXTGEN TB, whole-genome sequencing of tuberculosis utilising the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform for rapid identification of drug resistance in TB patients and providing genotypic level information on drug-resistant genes for up to 18 Anti – TB antibiotics.
Partnering with HaystackAnalytics (start-up incubated at SINE, IIT Bombay), Metropolis Healthcare plans to offer this test in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, the UAE, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania as well as three other African countries to help their fight against tuberculosis.
The 18 drugs covered are Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide, Kanamycin, Amikacin, Capreomycin, Ofloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Gatifloxacin, Ethionamide, Para-amino salicylic acid, Linezolid, Clofazimine, Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, and Delaminid.
NEXGEN TB has a better turnaround time with much faster and reliable results. Additionally, any novel drug resistance genetic mutations can be identified by whole-genome sequencing using NGS.
Ameera Shah, Promoter and MD, Metropolis Healthcare commented, “It’s an honour to partner with homegrown start-up, HaystackAnalytics to help launch NEXTGEN TB, as its need has become essential to this world.”
