Roche has announced its commitment to supporting global efforts against the ongoing mpox outbreak, declared a global health emergency by WHO. The company confirms that its diagnostic tools, including the cobas MPXV test, are effective in detecting the latest mpox variants, and is working to enhance laboratory capacity worldwide.
Roche, a global leader in biotechnology and diagnostics, has reaffirmed its support for the international response to the mpox outbreak, now recognized as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) as of August 14, 2024. Roche’s diagnostic solutions, including the cobas MPXV test and LightMix® research use kits, have been confirmed to detect the latest variants of the mpox virus, ensuring timely and accurate diagnostics globally.
In response to the WHO’s declaration, Roche is expanding its collaboration with governments, healthcare providers, and organizations worldwide to increase laboratory testing capacity for mpox. The company is also providing specialized training for laboratories, particularly across Africa, at the Roche Scientific Campus in South Africa and other local facilities, to improve testing accuracy and efficiency.
“Our commitment to support the global response to mpox began in 2022 when we developed a suite of tests to enable global access to rapid and high-quality PCR testing,” said Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics. “Diagnostics are essential in addressing emerging public health challenges like mpox, as they enable healthcare providers to identify infected patients, devise effective treatment strategies, and take appropriate actions.”
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread through close contact between people or from animals to humans. The virus, first identified in 1958, causes symptoms such as fever, headaches, and a painful rash. Given its potential to spread and cause significant illness, accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial in managing outbreaks.
Roche’s advancements in mpox diagnostics are expected to play a pivotal role in curbing the spread of the virus. By increasing testing capacity and ensuring the availability of high-quality tests, the company is aiding global public health efforts to manage and mitigate the impact of the outbreak.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to diagnostic tools, particularly in low-resource settings. Critics argue that more needs to be done to make these essential diagnostics accessible to all affected regions, regardless of economic status.
Roche has also emphasized the robustness of its cobas MPXV test, which uses a dual-target approach to ensure continued effectiveness even if the virus mutates, highlighting the test’s critical role in ongoing surveillance and response efforts.
As the mpox outbreak continues to pose global health challenges, Roche’s contributions to diagnostics and laboratory capacity-building underscore the company’s commitment to supporting international efforts to contain and combat the virus, ensuring that healthcare providers have the tools they need to respond effectively.
