FUJIFILM : Wako Pure Chemical launches mutation detection kit for SARS-CoV-2 “L452R” (FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical)

FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical launches

mutation detection kit for SARS-CoV-2 "L452R"

-Realizinghighly-sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 mutations common to Indian and California variants

TOKYO, May 17, 2021 - FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation (President: Kazuo Shiraki) has announced the launch of the "L452R mutation detection kit" (the research reagent) today. This research reagent is based on the One Step RT-qPCR method* to detect SARS-CoV-2 mutations common to Indian and Californian variants at a high sensitivity.

FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical expands the lineup of mutation detection kits of SARS-CoV-2, and will continue to contribute to the programs for identifying the current status of COVID-19 and preventing the further spread of the virus.

• DNA amplification response, using RNA as a template, to continuously run reverse transcription and DNA amplification in the same tube.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues around the world, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 are emerging in some countries. In Japan, variants from the U.K., South Africa and Brazil are gradually spreading. It is suggested that the variant from the U.K. with N501Y mutation at the spike protein on the virus surface is highly infectious. The variants from South Africa and Brazil, which have both N501Y and E484K mutation, are also said to be highly infectious and reduce effectiveness of vaccines against them. More recently, the variants from India and California** with L452R mutation, which is suggested to reduce immune effectiveness of the HLA-A24 leukocyte common in Japanese, has been detected in Japan.

The L452R mutation detection kit, developed with the unique design method of FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical, is the research reagent to detect SARS-CoV-2 mutation. This research reagent is capable of detecting L452R mutation at a high sensitivity from SARS-CoV-2 positive specimen. In addition, the combination with the detection kits for N501Y and E484K mutations, launched in this March, makes it possible to identify ➀ U.K. variant, ➁ South African/Brazilian variants, ➂ Indian/California variants.

**Indian and California variants don't have N501Y or E484K mutations, but have L452R mutation. In addition, some Indian variants have mutation of E484Q as well as L452R.

-: Negative)>

		N501Y		E484K		L452R
		Mutation		Mutation		Mutation				Result
		detection kit		detection kit		detection kit
SARS-CoV-2		+		-		-				UK (N501Y) variant
positive										South African/
specimen		+		+		-				Brazilian (N501Y, E484K)
										variants
		-		-		+				Indian/California
							(L452R) variants

FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical is currently developing the detection kit for E484Q mutation found on the Indian variant. The combination of this kit with L452R mutation detection kit launched today enables it to identify Indian variants with E484Q mutation.

FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical has developed gene detection kit for SARS-CoV-2, and this kit is used in the Japanese government's COVID-19 testing programs. Also, the company is engaged in research and development for new variants in the future, and will expand the lineup of mutation detection kits with early introduction to the market.

Under the mission of "with commitment to the future of science, our company is dedicated to create the source of happiness for all people," FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical will continue to contribute to the progress of wide range of industrial fields such as healthcare and academic research, by developing and supplying high quality products to meet the needs of customers and society.

For inquiries on information in this media release, contact:

Media Contact: FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation Corporate Planning Division https://www.fujifilm.co.jp/form/ffwk/en/general/input.php?id=FFWKGeneralEn

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