December 27, 2019 — Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña announced that the Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit developed by a team of researchers from the UP Manila National Institutes of Health led by Dr. Raul Destura had qualified for international market penetration.
The rapid diagnostic kit that uses the polymerase chain reaction technology to detect the virus in less than an hour will soon be distributed in ASEAN countries. Locally, the diagnostic kit is being distributed by Manila HealthTek, a spinoff company established by Dr. Destura for the commercialization of the dengue diagnostic technology.
The ASEAN market penetration is with the help of the Asean Network for Diagnostics (ADI) and follows the diagnostic kit’s passing the evaluation made by an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) panel of experts for use in the region to fight the deadly dengue mosquito virus. The ADI is an expert panel that screens technologies that can be made available across ASEAN markets.
Destura’s team of medical researchers received funding grants while conducting research and development for the diagnostic kit from the DOST grants-in-aid program, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, and the DOST Technology Innovation for Commercialization or Technicom program.
The DOST continues to assist the local biotech startup company Manila HealthTek Inc. in its effort to make Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit commercially available not just in the country but all over the world.
“The rapid dengue diagnostic kit is a shining example of a successful R & D supported early on by the DOST that led to the development of a breakthrough product that improves the lives or health of people,” Dela Peña said.
The Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit was one of two Filipino-developed inventions that bagged a gold medal at the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2018.
On September 10, 2019, Dr. Destura was conferred the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award by President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang for his contributions to health and medical biotechnology, especially in the development of the Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit. The DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) awarded the Gawad DAGISIK or Dakilang Ambag sa Imbensiyon at Siyensiyang Pang-Kalusugan also to Dr. Destura’s Biotek-M during its 32nd anniversary celebration on January 25, 2019. With reports from the Philippine Star Global
