They could probably enhance the sensitivity of the test somehow to lessen the incubation time needed for IFN release and probably also do the IFN ELISA on whole blood. This would remove the need for a long incubation and also for spinning the sample. I can't help thinking that a PON version of an IGRA is the way of the future. In this sort of company they really need to be planning ahead and something is needed for when the In-Tube patent expires. I am no expert on these matters but I understand that companies like CST are highly dependent on patent protection and IP rights because a generic version of their test would be easy to develop and generally only needs a couple of clinical studies to get approval. Certainly this is the case for generic drugs. If projections are for a multi hundred dollar market then surely competitors will emerge. For what its worth I plan to vote no because I think we deserve a better price.
CST Price at posting:
$3.47 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
