DHHS working on faster tests to identify, counteract bacterial infections

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) unveiled a new partnership with SeLux Diagnostic, Inc. this week with the goal of developing faster tests for bacterial infection identification and matching those individual infections with appropriate antibiotics.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is the sponsor of the contract, which puts $9.3 million at SeLux’s disposal for the next 18 months. SeLux’s test is phenotypic, identifying bacteria based on physical and biochemical characteristics. It then sorts their class and finds the antibiotics best for treating that particular infection. BARDA is hopeful this could reduce the time between diagnosis and response from days to hours.

“Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to public health and to the health security of the United States,” BARDA Director Rick Bright said. “In a bioterrorism incident, antibiotic-resistant infections could be devastating. We will need innovative tools for precision medicine to save lives.”

By matching the exact remedy needed for a particular infection, they hope to achieve just that. Research efforts are spread across two test systems. The first one may be able to provide results tested patients days faster than current methods. The second may be able to provide results the same day the test is started. Both are designed for use in hospitals and commercial labs.

The SeLux contract can be extended to fund additional work up to a total of approximately $36 million through 2023.