Beckman Coulter and MeMed Expand Host Immune Response Diagnostics Partnership

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and MeMed BV (Haifa, Israel) have expanded their host immune response diagnostics partnership. Beckman Coulter is now an authorized distributor of the MeMed BV assay, a rapid immunoassay test that can differentiate between bacterial and viral infections, and MeMed Key, a compact immunoassay analyzer which is cleared to run the MeMed BV assay in the United States and Europe. The latest distribution agreement complements the existing joint effort by both companies to develop a MeMed BV-based test for Beckman Coulter's family of Access Immunoassay Analyzers.

Differentiating between bacterial and viral infections can often be challenging for physicians due to similar presenting symptoms, leading to potential misuse of antibiotics. The MeMed BV test, employing a machine learning algorithm, combines measurements of three critical immune response proteins (TRAIL, IP-10, and CRP) to indicate the likelihood of bacterial versus viral infections. This test’s efficacy has been confirmed through extensive validation studies internationally and is now gaining traction in clinical settings across the U.S. and Europe, with over 20,000 patients tested.

Image: Beckman Coulter is now an authorized distributor of the MeMed Key immunoassay system and MeMed BV assay (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Recent studies have indicated that in about 29% of cases, clinicians encounter difficulties in distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections, which can delay effective decision-making and disrupt diagnostic processes. The MeMed BV assay has been shown to influence or change physician decisions in 87% of cases, demonstrating its significant impact on clinical practices (p < 0.05). The test delivers results within 15 minutes using serum or whole blood and has a greater than 99% negative predictive value for excluding bacterial infections.

"Beckman Coulter's commitment to improving infection management is unwavering," said Kevin O'Reilly, President, Beckman Coulter. "To that end, we are excited to extend our partnership with MeMed by expanding market access to the MeMed Key and BV assay. These MeMed innovations complement Beckman Coulter's portfolio of host response diagnostics, including our CBC-based hematological biomarker MDW [monocyte distribution width] identifying the presence of severe infection and risk of sepsis, our clinical chemistry PCT [procalcitonin] assay aiding risk assessment for septic shock, and our full suite of microbiology solutions providing faster time to optimize antibiotic therapies."

"We're excited to expand our partnership with Beckman Coulter, taking an additional step forward in our shared mission to advance pioneering host-response solutions,” added Dr. Eran Eden, MeMed's CEO and co-founder. “This expansion focuses on two main objectives: first, to educate and prime the market to accelerate the adoption of MeMed BV once it's cleared for use on Beckman Coulter's core-lab immunoassay analyzers; second, to broaden patient access to MeMed BV through a strategic hub and spoke model. By combining the capabilities of Beckman Coulter's analyzers with the MeMed Key's ability to deliver results directly from whole blood within minutes, we're creating a synergistic ecosystem that aids clinicians in distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections with unprecedented ease and precision."