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| Qiagen's careHPV for use in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure--Courtesy of PATH |
Dutch molecular diagnostics conglomerate Qiagen ($QGEN) launched its new human papillomavirus test in India for women in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. The company is touting the careHPV test as the first designed specifically with this patient group in mind.
CareHPV, which is similar in function to Qiagen's HC2 HPV test, is made for use in areas that lack electricity, water or laboratories, according to the company. Use in low-resource areas is limited for the HC2 test, which is more widely used in developed countries and large cities.
HPV is a serious threat around the world, and notably in emerging markets such as India and China, where Qiagen unveiled careHPV last year. High-risk HPV has been shown to be the primary cause of cervical cancer, and screening for the virus has been a worldwide effort to reduce the number of women that die from the disease. In India in particular, cervical cancer has accounted for about 20% of female cancer-related deaths. And it's the largest cause of death in middle-aged women there.
The test, manufactured by Qiagen in China, is designed to tolerate a wide range of temperatures--as might occur in Indian areas where refrigeration isn't an option. It's also made for simple use, Qiagen says, with a color-coded system and self-contained reagents.
For Qiagen and other companies developing tests for contagions such as HPV, HIV and others, expanding into emerging markets like India, China and Africa where the diseases are prevalent and often unscreened is a natural progression. And they can be especially rewarding to the company that is backed by international organizations with deep pockets. Qiagen developed the careHPV test with support from the Seattle-based international health organization PATH.
"The launch of careHPV in India will help in efforts to reduce the high burden of cervical cancer for women in India," Victor Shi, president of Qiagen Asia Pacific, said in a statement. "With the digene HC2 HPV test serving areas that have modern healthcare infrastructure and the careHPV test serving low-resource areas, Qiagen is expanding our role as the global leader in preventive screening for cervical cancer and continuing to contribute to women's health around the world."
- here's the release