MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, Microbix®), a life sciences innovator making critical ingredients that enable the production of clinical diagnostics and creating medical devices (QAPs™) that help ensure test accuracy, announces it has been awarded the “Beyond Borders” Ontario Business Achievement Award (OBAA) for 2019 by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC).
The award was presented at the OCC OBAA gala the evening of November 14 and recognizes success in developing and implementing innovative export strategies that positively drive its business. Microbix was also runner-up in OCC’s “Excellence in Innovation” category. Over 95% of Microbix’s sales are exports, directed principally to the United States, European Union, and Asia-Pacific markets. In 2019, Microbix completed scale-up of a novel, bioreactor-based technology for production of a critical “native antigen” ingredient. It has also succeeded in registering its first QAPs as medical devices in the United States and the European Union. Under the PTDx™, PROCEEDx™ and REDx™ Controls brands, its QAPs are being offered to international laboratory accreditation organizations, test makers, and clinical laboratories.Microbix’s critical ingredients enable the production of tests that detect the level of patients’ antibodies to infectious diseases. Results of such tests provide medically-important information concerning exposure to, and immunity to, relevant pathogens. Microbix supplies such ingredients (native antigens) to over 100 multinational companies that make such “immunodiagnostic” tests. Additionally, Microbix creates quality assessment products (QAPs) containing both native antigens and intact nucleic-acids. Regulated as medical devices, QAPs provide safe and reliable means of supporting the calibration and accuracy of complex medical tests – across both the immunologic and molecular diagnostic categories. Microbix’s QAPs are provided to laboratory accreditation organizations to support their proficiency testing programs, to test makers to support product development, instrument validation and technician training, and to clinical laboratories to support their quality management systems.Ken Hughes, COO and Mark Luscher, SVP of Scientific Affairs, attended the event and comment on behalf of Microbix: “We greatly appreciate this OBAA award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. It is very gratifying that the progress we’ve made at Microbix is being recognized by our peers. As always, we thank all that support us, including our employees, customers, suppliers, financial partners, the City of Mississauga, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada.”The OCC mission is to advocate for growth and prosperity on behalf of its 60,000 Ontario members. Its vision is to foster a vibrant and economically-sustainable province that is driven by an innovative, successful, and ever-expanding business community. The OCC represents chambers of commerce and boards of trade in communities across Ontario and steers policy conversations provincially and locally.About Microbix Biosystems
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