Merck collaborates with Mammoth Biosciences

Merck has announced a collaboration with Mammoth Biosciences for the commercial development through to the manufacturing of Mammoth’s CRISPR-based SARS CoV-2 diagnostic test. The high-throughput systems are compatible with both saliva and nasal swab samples and target around one thousand and five hundred tests with minimal user intervention per eight-hour shift. The assay is expected to be submitted later this year, by Mammoth, for FDA Emergency Use Authorisation.

To enable rapid processing of patient samples, the Life Science company of Merck will be the DETECTR BOOST SARS-CoV-2 Reagent Kit’s contract manufacturer, which will use normal, automated liquid handling equipment. U.S. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments labs will be able to increase the ability to conduct performance testing with this new test.

According to Mammoth, while retaining the gold standard precision of Polymerase Chain Reaction required by laboratory operators, a CRISPR-based workflow, that decreases the time needed for testing, is expected to be used in the new test.

Head of Applied Solutions, Life Science, Merck, Jean-Charles Wirth, stated: “This collaboration will allow us to help Mammoth with the development and production of their new SARS-CoV-2 test, which once approved by the FDA, will increase testing capacity here in the U.S. at the scale needed to combat this pandemic. Merck is helping to advance the future of testing at scale. This is an important step in detecting Covid-19 quickly.

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Mammoth Biosciences, Janice Chen, Ph.D., stated: “Leveraging the proven manufacturing and product leadership of the Life Science business of Merck is critical to Mammoth delivering a CRISPR-based diagnostic solution to labs. We have the opportunity to make a tremendous positive impact on the pandemic by enabling the further scale-up of our nation’s testing capacity.”