Virus detectors promise top jobs (From The Northern Echo)

Virus detectors promise top jobs

9:00am Friday 13th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A NORTH-EAST nanotechnology company has announced a collaboration with a Japanese company which could bring investment and jobs to the region.

OJ-Bio is a joint venture between Newcastle-based Orla Protein Technologies and leading Japanese electronics company Japan Radio Co (JRC).

The venture between the companies, which have been working together since 2007, will see the further development of hand-held diagnostic equipment, which allows rapid test results for viruses and bacteria, including flu and MRSA.

Last month, Orla and JRC unveiled a joint venture to manufacture, promote and sell these devices across the world, at an event in Tokyo.

Now, the move in the North- East will help further develop the region’s global reputation in sciences and healthcare.

OJ-Bio will initially be based at Newcastle’s Centre for Life, and Orla will have 80 per cent of the business with JRC owning 20 per cent.

At the launch, it was said the venture had the potential to create a number of highlyskilled jobs in the North-East.

Dale Athey, chief executive of Orla, said: “This sort of device will open up new opportunities in the £10bn diagnostics marketplace. It’s a multi-million pound opportunity and will bring significant returns to Orla, its stakeholders and the North-East economy.”

The technology will see new diagnostic devices used by doctors and paramedics to identify, diagnose and monitor patients. They could revolutionise patient testing through rapid detection.

The venture has been supported by regional development agency One North East, and NEL Capital.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)