BARDA, DoD award $481M to Cue Health for COVID-19 molecular test production expansion

A $481 million award from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Department of Defense (DoD) this week will help Cue Health, Inc. expand the production capacity of a cartridge-based point-of-care molecular test for COVID-19.

With the fund injection, Cue aims to expand its industrial base and increase domestic production to 100,000 COVID-19 test kits per day by March 2021. This will also include 6 million COVID-19 tests and 30,000 instruments delivered to the government to support domestic pandemic response.

“Cue’s tests provide results in about 20 minutes with the kind of accuracy provided by lab tests that can take several days, adding to our dramatically expanding supply of rapid tests that can support safe reopening,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said.

The quick test detects ribonucleic acid (RNA) from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It works off a simple nasal swab and transmits results to the Cue Health App through connected mobile smart devices. Current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization allows the Cue COVID-19 test to be used in patient care settings.

“The Cue testing system is highly sensitive and specific, and nearly equivalent to the best large referral laboratory systems,” Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for Health, said. “It is FDA-authorized for use in anyone suspected of having COVID-19 by their health care provider. This investment will allow Cue Health, Inc. to expand its footprint and significantly scale up production, and by doing so, enable this technology to be deployed throughout our testing ecosystem to benefit all Americans.”