VolitionRx Limited (NYSE American: VNRX) announced the filing of a strategic patent application covering the use of its proprietary Nu.Q technology for triaging and monitoring patients suspected of having contracted the Ebola virus. The application builds on the company’s existing Nu.Q NETs test, which measures circulating nucleosomes and neutrophil extracellular traps as early indicators of hyper-inflammation associated with septic shock and mortality.
The company said its CE-Marked automated Nu.Q NETs assay and recently developed finger-prick lateral flow detection prototype could provide a low-cost bedside triage solution during Ebola outbreaks, particularly in resource-constrained regions. Volition is seeking partnerships with global health organizations, pharmaceutical developers, NGOs and distribution partners to support field trials, manufacturing scale-up and potential deployment in outbreak zones.
This development is significant because Ebola outbreaks often occur in areas with limited laboratory infrastructure, where rapid diagnosis and triage are critical to controlling the spread of the virus. Current diagnostic methods can be expensive and require specialized equipment, making them less accessible in low-resource settings. Volition’s finger-prick test could change that by enabling healthcare workers to quickly assess patients at the point of care, potentially reducing transmission and improving patient outcomes.
The Nu.Q technology platform is based on the detection of nucleosomes and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are markers of cell death and inflammation. In the context of Ebola, these markers could help differentiate between infected and non-infected individuals, as well as monitor disease progression and response to treatment. The company’s existing Nu.Q NETs test is already CE-Marked for use in Europe for sepsis management, indicating its clinical utility in hyper-inflammatory conditions.
Volition is a multinational company focused on advancing the science of epigenetics, dedicated to saving lives and improving outcomes for people and animals with life-altering diseases through earlier detection, as well as disease and treatment monitoring. Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing and commercializing simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help detect and monitor a range of diseases, including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis, such as sepsis. Early detection and monitoring have the potential not only to prolong the life of patients but also to improve their quality of life.
The patent application represents a strategic move to protect Volition’s intellectual property in the infectious disease space, particularly for emerging pathogens like Ebola. If successful, the test could become a standard tool in outbreak response, complementing existing molecular diagnostics and helping to allocate limited resources more effectively.
Volition’s research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and an office in London. For further information, visit the company’s website at https://volition.com/.
