Data-Driven System Predicts Drug Susceptibility to HIV-1

A quantitative, biologically- based, objective, data-driven system predicts Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) drug susceptibility from a viral genotype.

The bioinformatics device guides physicians through the extremely complex HIV treatment decision process and can help to facilitate effective disease management, particularly for treatment-experienced patients.

The state-of-the-art device, the vircoTYPE HIV-1, is designed to be used by clinical laboratories to predict how susceptible a patient's virus will be to currently licensed reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitor HIV-1 drugs. Virus from the patient is genetically sequenced by the referring laboratory and the sequence is sent securely to Virco BVBA, (Beerse, Belgium). The mutations are evaluated and then the vircoTYPE HIV-1 software conducts complex mathematical modeling to predict how the virus will respond to a given drug.

The prediction is made by drawing on information contained in Virco's extensive database, which includes 61,000 matching genotype/phenotype pairs, derived from 445,000 genotypes and 98,000 phenotypes. This is supported by a database of over 16,000 patient clinical outcomes to link resistance to response to therapy in treated patients. Studies have demonstrated this system to be a highly reliable predictor of treatment response.

VircoTYPE HIV- bioinformatics system has achieved CE-Marking demonstrating that Virco has obtained regulatory approval from the authorities in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. Werner Verbiest, MSc MBA, General Manager Worldwide, Virco BVBA, noted: "This is a significant milestone for Virco and our product. CE-Marking extends the value of vircoTYPE HIV-1 to our customers as a unique, bioinformatic, software-based diagnostic that provides service in a regulated manner to support complex clinical decision making for this chronic disease in the EU."

Anton Pozniak, MD, from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, (London, UK), added, "This CE-Marking means that clinicians can rest assured about the safety and proper performance of vircoTYPE HIV-1, also helping laboratories to reduce their existing burden of validating resistance test results."

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Virco BVBA
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital