Microba Life Sciences, Sonic Healthcare launch MetaPanel gastrointestinal pathogen test in Australia

Microba Life Sciences Limited (ASX: MAP) has officially launched the MetaPanel product to healthcare professionals on Wednesday, 13 March 2024. This innovative product marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Microba and Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL) through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology Pty Ltd, aimed at distributing the advanced gastrointestinal pathogen test MetaPanel across Australia. This collaboration, first announced to the ASX on 5 July 2023, with a further update in the Q2 FY24 Quarterly Report released on 30 January 2024, signifies a leap forward in the diagnostic capabilities available to Australian healthcare professionals.

Gastrointestinal discomfort, affecting a substantial portion of the population annually, often stems from infections caused by gastrointestinal pathogens. Traditional diagnostic tests have been limited, capable of diagnosing only 10-22 pathogens, leading to frequent misdiagnoses or underdiagnoses. MetaPanel disrupts this status quo as a world-first, NATA-accredited metagenomic diagnostic test capable of identifying 175 pathogen targets in a single test, encompassing common and elusive gastrointestinal pathogens.

Developed over five years by Microba, leveraging the company’s advanced metagenomic technology in collaboration with infectious disease experts and Sonic Healthcare’s leading molecular biology & microbiology team, MetaPanel represents a significant advancement in the medical diagnostics field. This collaboration culminates years of investment in diagnostic product development, propelling Microba into a new era as a medical diagnostics company, as highlighted by Microba’s CEO, Dr. Luke Reid.

The MetaPanel is now exclusively available through Sonic Healthcare’s network of pathology practices across Australia, with nationwide launch activities already underway. The premier launch event, featuring keynote speaker Prof. Nick Talley, a leading gastroenterologist, took place in Sydney, marking the beginning of a series of national launch events slated over the next six weeks.

This collaboration between Microba and Sonic Healthcare not only brings an unparalleled diagnostic tool to the Australian healthcare market but also sets a new standard in the care and treatment of gastrointestinal pathogen-related illnesses. With MetaPanel’s comprehensive detection capabilities, healthcare professionals can now diagnose a wider range of pathogens, including toxins and antibiotic resistance genes, ensuring more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans.

The launch of MetaPanel by Microba Life Sciences Limited and Sonic Healthcare Limited represents a significant breakthrough in the field of gastrointestinal health, offering unprecedented diagnostic capabilities. This innovative approach to pathogen detection, enabled by advanced metagenomic analysis, is set to transform the landscape of medical diagnostics in Australia and potentially globally. The collaboration exemplifies the power of combining cutting-edge technology with clinical expertise to address unmet needs in healthcare, promising improved outcomes for patients suffering from gastrointestinal infections.