ReaMetrix develops low cost kit for HIV

ReaMetrix, the healthcare technology company founded by serial entrepreneur Bala Manian through 'value arbitrage' in India rather than the 'cost arbitrage', has tasted success.

The company has developed an affordable diagnostic reagent (a substance used in a chemical reaction to detect, analyse or produce another substance) kit for the Indian market.

The kit enables the management of AIDS patients and makes it more affordable than imported reagents and allows physicians to test more frequently, measure the ravaging effects of the HIV on a patient's immune system and effectiveness of drug therapy, Bala S Manian, director, ReaMetrix India told Business Standard.

The kit is to be sold under the brand name Accuford Tri-TStat and was made possible through the assay development and manufacturing capabilities of ReaMetrix.

ReaMetrix has facilities in San Carlos, California and in Bangalore. "Through 'value arbitrage' rather than the 'cost arbitrage', we are committed to leveraging the strengths of Indian scientists to deliver enormous value in the fields of clinical diagnostics and life science research," said Manian.

"We are impressed at the quality of the reagents and the availability of the reagents at the price point has allowed us to significantly reduce the cost of the tests to patients," said Dr Sujay Prasad, pathologist of Anand Diagnostic Laboratory. He added, "The local availability of the reagents will also assure freshness, increasing the reliability of the tests".

"It is a pleasure to be associated with ReaMetrix by evaluating this high quality reagent, which is now available at a lower cost. I believe a real need of the diagnostic industry has been met," said Dr Srinivasan, managing director of Lister Metropolis Laboratory & Research Centre in Chennai.

To reach the Indian market, the company has tied up with Millipore India, a bioprocess and bioscience products and services company with solutions that optimise the development and manufacture of biologics and improve lab productivity.

"We plan to harness Millipore's reputation for quality in filtration technologies and its existing distribution channel in the Indian market place," said Manian.

The reagent kit costs Rs 125 per test, one-fourth the cost of imported kits.

The release of the Tri-TStat reagent kit is expected to shake the Indian diagnostics' industry presently valued at $5-10 million dominated by global companies like Bector Dickson, Beckam Coulter and regional players.

Explaining the distribution of Accuford in India, Sudhir Kant of Millipore-India said, "As the product needs constant cold chain and delivery within 48 hours, it will be sold in major metros having good connectivity with Bangalore. Later, as volume increases, it will be moved tier II cities.