MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The country’s first and only biotech company in diagnostics, Manila Healthtek Inc. (MTek) gets another feather to its cap. It wins its second Gawad Dagisik (Dakilang Ambag sa Imbensyon at Siyensiyang Pangkalusugan) award for its “Alay Sa bayan: The Story of Manila HealthTek Inc.’s Biotek-M Trio Kit”.
Gawad Dagisik is an award given by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) to health-related technology and innovation which poses huge potential for successful commercialization.
MTek founder and CEO Dr. Raul V. Destura describes the award as “another step forward in furthering the country’s capability in health-related molecular diagnostic and biotechnology products and services.”
Biotek-MTM Leptospira, Salmonella, and Schistosoma LAMP Detections Kits diagnose infections among patients presenting with an acute febrile illness.
MTek’s first Gawad Dagisik award was for Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit during the 1st DOST-TAPI Awards in 2019.
A commercial prototype of the Biotek-M Trio Kit is currently being developed by MTek. Hands-on training of registered medical technologists and science research specialists on DNA processing and utilization of the Biotek-MTM Kits are also being conducted. The participating hospitals and laboratories are Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Schistosomiasis Research and Training Center, and Philippine General Hospital.
These laboratories will perform the post-marketing evaluation and product validation of the Biotek-MTM LAMP detection kits.
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay is a simple, rapid, specific, and low-cost nucleic acid amplification method that utilizes 4-6 primers reacting in a single temperature, resulting in high amplification efficiency. The assay used for Biotek-MTM Trio uses a fluorophore in one of its primers and a complementary quencher, employing a different method of results visualization such that there is no need to open the PCR tube after the reaction. This is to lessen the risk of contamination due to open-tube, end-point analysis. Results of the assay could be obtained in an hour through visual detection using a LED transilluminator.
MTek is a private research and development company with a robust diagnostic technology pipeline. With support coming from the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the company is equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing tools and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to manufacture molecular diagnostic tools in the Philippines.
The awarding was during DOST-TAPI’s Gawad Parangal 2021 held at the Blue Leaf Events Place in Taguig City last December 20, 2021.
