Merck : Mammoth Biosciences Partner to Produce, Scale Up Covid-19 Test

By Olivia Bugault

Merck KGaA said Thursday that it is collaborating with California-based Mammoth Biosciences for the development, scale-up and commercial production of Covid-19 diagnostic tests in the U.S.

The New SARS-CoV-2 test developed by Mammoth could enable performing roughly 1,500 tests per 8-hour shift, the German pharmaceutical and chemicals company said.

"This collaboration will allow us to help Mammoth with the development and production of their new SARS-CoV-2 test, which, once approved by the FDA, will increase testing capacity here in the U.S. at the scale needed to combat this pandemic," the head of Merck's applied solutions, Life Science, said.

Mammoth Biosciences is planning to submit its CRISPR-based tests for FDA emergency use authorization later this year, it said.

Write to Olivia Bugault at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-29-20 1240ET