Mölnlycke Health Care joins up with Scottish Enterprise and University of Edinburgh in fight against superbugs

Mölnlycke Health Care today announced it has signed an agreement with Scottish Enterprise to develop products based on an innovative technology platform shown to deliver rapid results to detect antibiotic resistant bacteria.

The technology, owned by Scottish Enterprise and developed in collaboration with research carried out by externally contracted partners including the University of Edinburgh, utilizes Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to detect and quantify biomarkers that show the presence of pathogens such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Current methods of screening patients for MRSA often involve centralized laboratory facilities and can take up to forty-eight hours to process results. During this time, MRSA can spread among patients or healthcare workers. Rapid Point of Care (PoC) testing enables the early identification of infected patients. This helps to reduce the risk of transmission and infection, thus reducing healthcare spending and increasing positive outcomes for patients.

The global PoC diagnostic market is estimated to be in excess of $4.3 billion and forecast to grow to $7 billion by 2018 with infectious diseases testing being the most dynamic sector.1

Pierre Guyot, CEO at Mölnlycke Health Care, comments “We are delighted to be expanding our capabilities and product offering in close collaboration with Scottish Enterprise and the University of Edinburgh. This initiative marks our entry into the diagnostic market. We are very proud to be extending our offering of efficient infection control and prevention solutions that make life easier and safer for health care professionals and patients.”

Eleanor Mitchell, director of commercialisation, Scottish Enterprise, says "This licensing deal is a great example of Scottish Enterprise's collaborative approach in large scale R&D projects and of its role in supporting companies to translate ideas and research into viable products and services.

"By working with our colleagues in Scottish Development International, as well as our public and private sector partners, we have been able to identify and secure the opportunity for Mölnlycke Health Care to develop its innovative commercial product based on our platform technology at the Edinburgh BioQuarter in Scotland.

"We are operating in a hugely competitive environment and Mölnlycke Health Care’s decision to locate in Scotland is testament to the international reputation of our universities, businesses and skills base."