Microba Life Sciences Limited announced that it has executed a commercial agreement with Sonic Healthcare Limited through a wholly owned subsidiary Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology Pty Ltd, to distribute Microba's advanced infectious disease test MetaPanelâ„¢? in Australia (Distribution Agreement). The announcement of the MetaPanelâ„¢?

Distribution Agreement marks the first commercial agreement between Microba and Sonic Healthcare following the announcement to the ASX of the $17.8 million strategic investment by Sonic Healthcare into Microba on 29 November 2022. At the time of the investment, Sonic and Microba agreed initial terms for a strategic partnership to distribute Microba's microbiome testing technology into Sonic Healthcare's major markets. The execution of this Distribution Agreement now completes the first of those commercial distribution arrangements, providing exclusive distribution rights to deliver the MetaPanelâ„¢?

test Australia-wide through the Sonic Healthcare Australia Pathology network. The MetaPanelâ„¢? technology was developed over many years and represents a world-first in pathology through comprehensive metagenomic testing for gastrointestinal infectious diseases.

Sonic Healthcare is a leading provider of high-quality pathology services and will lead the commercialisation efforts to deliver the Meta panelâ„¢? test nationally. Sonic Australia is the first region to distribute Microba's technology, with plans to deliver testing technology and products into additional markets across the globe through its partnership.

MetaPanelâ„¢? is an advanced in-vitro diagnostic for testing of causal agents of gastrointestinal infectious disease. The test employs Microba's metagenomics technology to diagnose infectious pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites and DNA viruses together with assessment of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes to support precise treatment decisions.