FDA authorizes H7N9 diagnostic

FDA granted an Life Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:LIFE). Dan Didier, public health director at Life Tech, noted the company "has a history of working with the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO) and public health labs to combat virus outbreaks like they did with the H1N1 pandemic and continues to do so today with the H7N9 outbreak" (see BioCentury, June 29, 2009).

FDA also is soliciting applications from industry for commercial tests that could be distributed more widely than the CDC test. "FDA has been in contact with manufacturers and commercial entities to encourage them to submit to us data on H7N9 diagnostic tests," said Borio. ...