Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc and bioMérieux have announced the launch of AmPORE-TB, a Research Use Only (RUO)* solution for the rapid characterization of mutations associated with antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology. While preventable and treatable, the World Health Organization considers tuberculosis (TB) the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent i. Multidrug-resistant TB affects about 400,000 people annually and increases risk of morbidity and mortality ii. To address this public health crisis, WHO points out the need for rapid, reliable antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
WHO has recommended targeted DNA sequencing, with AmPORE-TB named as one of three targeted methods meeting the class-based performance criteria for the detection of AMR gene mutations iii. Available for research use only, AmPORE-TB is a complete solution, which uses Oxford Nanopore's benchtop dedicated GridION device to characterize 24 TB-resistant genes and provides comprehensive results within the same day. With its built-in software, the solution provides automated data analysis and reporting.
The WHO recognition underscores the importance of the AmPORE-TB technology, which can provide rapid, high-resolution insights into the genetic makeup of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The solution is designed and manufactured by Oxford Nanopore and distributed by bioMérieux**. AmPORE-TB is expected to be launched first in the regions with the highest need and where it can add the most value, including low- and middle-income countries, where 99% of new cases occur.
