- Sona Nanotech (CSE:SONA) has recruited scientific advisors to help develop a coronavirus rapid screening test
- Fiona Marshall and Sandy Morrison will assist in developing and seeking FDA approval for the company’s rapid-response test
- Sona’s initial laboratory work on the test is progressing well, and is likely to accelerate
- Sona’s share price is down 12.05 per cent, and is currently trading at $0.73 per share
Sona Nanotech (CSE:SONA) has recruited two scientific advisors, who will assist to develop a coronavirus rapid screening test.
Fiona Marshall, the CEO of AgPlus Diagnostics, will help the Sona team with the scientific considerations of the test development. She will also assist with manufacturing set-up, quality control, and regulatory approval.
Ms Marshall has extensive experience in this area, having previously established a facility for producing lateral flow tests. This included tests for Class 3 deadly pathogens that served US military contracts.
Ms Marshall also oversaw the development of a rapid-response test development program during the Ebola outbreak of 2013.
Fiona stated that she was familiar with, and happy to join the team Sona has built around the COVID-19 rapid response test.
“I look forward to working with industry leaders like The Native Antigen Company and General Health Electric Health Care Life Sciences. I look forward to working with the highly-sensitive Sona nanoparticles to get this much-needed test to market as quickly as possible,” she added.
President of Quality Systems Atlantic, Sandy Morrison, will assist Sona with its ongoing application for FDA Emergency Use Authorisation.
Mr Morrison has over 30 years of experience in the medical industry, and is familiar with regulatory affairs. He helped to obtain regulatory approval from Health Canada and the FDA for the first rapid HIV test.
Sona Nanotech CEO, Darren Rowles, commented on the additions to the company, and provided an update on the test development.
“We are very happy to welcome Fiona and Sandy and the invaluable input they will provide us in developing our COVID-19 rapid response test,” he said.
“We are also pleased to report that our initial laboratory work is progressing well. As a result of our collaboration with GE, we expect to accelerate an aggressive pace in the development of this critical test,” Darren added.
Sona’s share price is down 12.05 per cent, and is currently trading at $0.73 per share, as of 11:05am EST.