Curative acquires California-based analytical laboratory, KorvaLabs

Curative Inc., a COVID-19 testing startup, has recently completed the acquisition of a DEA licensed and CLIA certified analytical laboratory, KorvaLabs, Inc.

The deal happened along the heels of the partnership between the company and the laboratory to manufacture and process Curative’s oral fluid-based test for coronavirus. Curative has processed a total number of 245,371 tests under the support of the California-based laboratory. It also continues to process nearly 14,000 tests daily.

According to Fred Turner, founder and CEO of Curative, KorvaLabs has been contributing to accelerating the testing capacity and delivering accurate & easy-to-use oral fluid tests across the city and county of Los Angeles. The recent acquisition will formalize its month-long relationship with KorvaLabs to process, distribute, and produce as many tests as possible.

KorvaLabs and Curative formed a partnership in March 2020, joining hands to convert the facilities of KorvaLabs into a dedicated space for processing and producing the novel, oral fluid-based test offered by Curative. These two organizations have produced several test kits on behalf of the Los Angeles city as well as secured an EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) from the FDA in mid-April.

Several clinical studies have demonstrated that the company’s novel, accurate, rapidly scalable, and easy-to-use oral fluid is as sensitive as the common NP (nasopharyngeal) swab tests adopted for the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, the company’s testing method offers various advantages over the nasopharyngeal swab tests that make it safer and easier to administer and use.

The Curative tests, unlike the NP swab tests, do not pose a risk of exposure for healthcare workers while collecting samples and require far less PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). This denotes the test’s ability to be used effectively and safely by other front liners. The supply chain used to manufacture the Curative tests is orthogonal from the supply chain that offers NP swab tests. Due to this, the Curative tests can be rapidly scaled without placing any stress on the existing strained diagnostic supply chain.
 

Source credit:https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/05/19/2035772/0/en/COVID-19-Testing-Provider-Curative-Acquires-KorvaLabs.html