Disruptive Diagnostic Pioneer Honored for Applying the Power of CRISPR Technology to COVID-19 Testing

Cambridge, Mass., November, 18, 2021 – Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, today announced that it has been named to Fast Company’s inaugural Next Big Things in Tech list for its application of CRISPR technology to its FDA-authorized COVID-19 testing kit. The list honors technology breakthroughs that promise to shape the future of their industries—from healthcare to agriculture to artificial intelligence and more.

The final list, which includes global giants, intrepid startups, and research that’s fresh from the labs, recognizes 65 technologies that are making waves. While not all of the products, services, and technological developments are on the market yet, they’re reaching key milestones in having a positive impact for consumers, businesses, and society at large in the next five years. Fast Company also recognized 33 honorable mentions.

Sherlock Biosciences first broke ground by receiving the first ever FDA authorization of CRISPR technology for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit for the rapid detection of the virus that causes COVID-19. Beyond COVID-19, there are additional gaps in at-home testing, and Sherlock is committed to bringing testing into consumers’ homes to make healthcare more accessible.

“The recent COVID-19 global health crisis underscored the dire need for rapid, reliable, and accessible diagnostic testing. Our first-of-its-kind CRISPR-based COVID-19 testing kit has provided a springboard from which we will continue to apply cutting-edge science to create new diagnostics solutions that change the lives of individuals and have a profound impact on society at large,” said Bryan Dechairo, President and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences. “We are honored that our technology was recognized by Fast Company as one of the Next Big Things in Tech 2021. We are determined to put vital health information in the hands of patients so they are empowered to make informed healthcare decisions.”

“Fast Company is thrilled to highlight cutting-edge technologies that are solving real-world problems in unexpected ways. From climate change and public health crises to machine learning and security, these technologies will certainly have a profound impact on the future, and we’re honored to bring attention to them today,” says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company.

Click here to see the final list.

The Winter 2021/2022 issue of Fast Company is available online now and will hit newsstands on December 7.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is setting a new standard for molecular diagnostics, bringing answers to the point of need by enabling simple and convenient access to health information. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, CRISPR-based SHERLOCK™ and INSPECTR™, a synthetic-biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free, Sherlock is bringing together the accuracy of PCR testing with the convenience and simplicity of antigen tests for molecular diagnostics at your fingertips. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including the home, precision oncology, infection identification, food safety and disease detection. In 2020 the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information please visit www.sherlock.bio.

Contact

Dean Mastrojohn, Goodfuse Communications
dean.mastrojohn@goodfuse.com

Cambridge, Mass., July 12, 2021 – Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, today announced that Bryan Dechairo, Ph.D. has been appointed president and chief executive officer. He will also join Sherlock’s board of directors. He succeeds Co-Founder Rahul Dhanda, who will continue to serve as a board member until the end of 2021 and then as strategic adviser in 2022.

“After a year of unprecedented growth and acceleration of our CRISPR and synthetic biology technologies, Sherlock is poised to disrupt diagnostics through the launch of real-world solutions that provide accurate, actionable health information wherever and whenever it is needed,” said Jim Collins, Ph.D., co-founder and board member of Sherlock Biosciences. “Bryan brings 20-plus years of experience spanning research to commercial, with a proven track record of funding and scaling business from venture-backed start-ups to profitable public companies. We feel confident that his vast experience, coupled with his passion for providing patient access to effective and cost-saving novel technologies, will lead us into the next chapter for Sherlock.”

Dr. Dechairo joins Sherlock from Myriad Genetics, where he was executive vice president of clinical development. Dr. Dechairo oversaw the development portfolio, delivering business-critical evidentiary data for value-based reimbursement and market acceptance of commercial and novel diagnostic products across six business units globally. Before joining Myriad, he was chief medical officer, chief scientific officer and senior vice president of research and development at Assurex Health, which was acquired by Myriad in 2016. Prior to Assurex Health, Dr. Dechairo held roles of increasing responsibility at Medco Health Solutions, Pfizer and other diagnostic and therapeutics companies. He also served on the board of directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and educated and mentored the next generation of clinical leaders through his role as assistant professor of pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Dechairo has published more than 50 academic and research-based publications. He received his Ph.D. in human genetics from University College London and completed his undergraduate studies in integrative biology at University of California, Berkeley.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Sherlock at such a pivotal moment for the company,” said Dr. Dechairo. “The past year’s successes are a remarkable testament to the commitment of this team and the disruptive potential of the SHERLOCK™ and INSPECTR™ platforms. I look forward to leveraging my experience in global diagnostic product commercialization to advance Sherlock’s mission to decentralize and democratize advanced molecular diagnostics, bringing easy, rapid and accurate diagnostic tests where and when they are needed most.”

“Bryan’s depth and breadth of experience scaling businesses will enable the company to accelerate growth and development of both our SHERLOCK and INSPECTR platforms,” said Michael Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., board member of Sherlock Biosciences. “Our continued success is built on the solid foundation that Rahul and his team have put into place, and we thank him for his tremendous contributions in reaching this inflection point. We are grateful for his continued guidance and extensive knowledge of the diagnostics space, which is invaluable to our team.”

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to providing global access to the simplest and most accurate tests that empower individuals to control their own healthcare. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, the company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method for “smart amplicon detection,” and INSPECTR™, a synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests and disease detection in the field. In 2020, the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

Contact

Dan Budwick, 1AB

dan@1abmedia.com

Multiple Partnerships Ensure Point-of-care and High-throughput CRISPR COVID-19 Diagnostic Kits at Global Scale

BOSTON, June 23, 2021 – The 221b Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Sherlock Biosciences to address the global COVID-19 pandemic while promoting diverse representation in STEM, today announced that its partnerships will increase COVID-19 diagnostic manufacturing capacity by up to 10 million tests per month by year-end. Through multiple license agreements this year with organizations including ALBOT Technologies, Cooper International, LogicInk, Rokline, United PPE and binx health, The 221b Foundation has enabled manufacturing and global distribution in the U.S., United Arab Emirates, India and Singapore, and is in discussions to expand beyond these geographies to increase access for vital diagnostic solutions around the world.

The 221b Foundation was founded to aid in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic by enabling access to intellectual property associated with the company’s SHERLOCK™ CRISPR-based technology. Proceeds from third-party sales of SHERLOCK CRISPR COVID-19 products have supported programs that promote racial and gender diversity in STEM, including HMS MEDscience, Scratch and The Akilah Institute.

“As the world mobilized to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, our mission obligated us to be part of the global solution. The 221b Foundation is one of our most important responses – an open innovation model to provide our comprehensive CRISPR IP estate to expedite the end of the pandemic,” said Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences. “Since launching the Foundation, we have enabled a variety of use cases from point-of-care to strategic testing centers in the country of Nepal to highly automated clinical environments. We are honored to be meeting this global need while creating pathways for programs that support gender and racial diversity in STEM, a vital step to ensure our industry reflects the communities it serves around the world.”

Since receiving Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2020 for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit – the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology – The 221b Foundation has continued to increase access to the technology through partnerships around the world.

“Since launching The 221b Foundation, we have continued to advance the platform workflow to provide a high-throughput, low cost and incredibly accurate solution to patients worldwide, while advancing the field of CRISPR diagnostics with innovations building on our discovery of new Cas enzymes to enable fully integrated, real-time multiplex testing,” said William J. Blake, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Sherlock Biosciences. “Our and our partners’ assays are highly effective at detecting new, highly transmissible COVID-19 variants, making them a powerful solution to this global public health crisis.”

To learn more about licensing opportunities or our CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 method, contact us directly at sales@sherlock.bio or read our White Paper here.

About The 221b Foundation

The 221b Foundation was founded with the dual mission to assist in the eradication of COVID-19, while supporting racial and gender diversity in STEM. By providing support and intellectual property that enables both non-profit and for-profit entities to develop CRISPR-based diagnostic testing, The 221b Foundation seeks to aid in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic while furthering access and diversity in STEM industries. Led by industry experts in the fields of diagnostic testing, STEM and diversity, The 221b Foundation envisions a world where advances in CRISPR technology fuel the innovations that will put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit: 221bfoundation.org.

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to providing global access to the simplest and most accurate tests that empower individuals to control their own healthcare. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, the company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method for “smart amplicon detection,” and INSPECTR™, a synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests and disease detection in the field. In 2020, the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

Contact

Katie Engleman, 1AB
katie@1abmedia.com

Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 Kit to be Distributed Across Government Labs and Facilities to Meet Diagnostic Testing Needs Across the Region

BOSTON – The 221b Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Sherlock Biosciences to address the global COVID-19 pandemic while promoting diverse representation in STEM, today announced that it has granted a license to ALBOT USA and ALBOT Technologies Private Limited India to develop, manufacture and distribute COVID-19 diagnostic tests using Sherlock’s CRISPR technology. ALBOT has current capacity to manufacture up to 30,000 units per day, increasing access in a region combating high numbers of infections and emerging variants.

On the heels of license agreements in the U.S., Middle East and Asia, this latest partnership enables CRISPR’s rapid, accurate and automatable solution to directly benefit India’s fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic, where accurate detection of highly transmittable variants like B.1.617 and B.1.618 present a growing global concern.

“As India confronts the challenges posed by highly transmissible new COVID-19 variants, the ability of Sherlock’s assay to detect 100 percent of double and triple mutation strains makes it a powerful tool to contain the pandemic,” said Akash Singh, Ph.D., CEO, ALBOT Technologies. “We look forward to ramping Sherlock Biosciences’ CRISPR technology in India at a scale of one million tests per month to contain the crisis created by this pandemic.”

The SHERLOCK diagnostic platform can achieve single molecule detection of nucleic acid targets; its name stands for Specific High Sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing. SHERLOCK utilizes CRISPR activity for “smart amplicon detection” and can be adapted for use with existing diagnostic instruments, improving time to result due to its significant multiplexing capacity. When a specific sequence of DNA or RNA is present, a CRISPR enzyme is activated and, much like a pair of scissors, starts cutting nearby genetic material, releasing a fluorescent signal that indicates a positive result. In May 2020, Sherlock received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology.

“The continued spread of COVID-19 in India is a public health crisis that requires global support. We are pleased that through The 221b Foundation, our unique CRISPR solution is being implemented as part of a strategy to contain all the variants of SARS-CoV-2,” said Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences. “ALBOT has worked with CRISPR for years, and we are very excited to see them apply that expertise to bring our platform forward to meet the critical need for increased testing capacity in India.”

About The 221b Foundation

The 221b Foundation was founded with the dual mission to assist in the eradication of COVID-19, while supporting racial and gender diversity in STEM. By providing support and intellectual property that enables both non-profit and for-profit entities to develop CRISPR-based diagnostic testing, The 221b Foundation seeks to aid in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic while furthering access and diversity in STEM industries. Led by industry experts in the fields of diagnostic testing, STEM and diversity, The 221b Foundation envisions a world where advances in CRISPR technology fuel the innovations that will put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit: 221bfoundation.org.

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to providing global access to the simplest and most accurate tests that empower individuals to control their own healthcare. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, the company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method for “smart amplicon detection,” and INSPECTR™, a synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests and disease detection in the field. In 2020, the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio.

Contact
Katie Engleman, 1AB
katie@1abmedia.com

Leading Clinical Laboratory Runs First-ever Successful Automation of a CRISPR Test for High-Throughput, Using Sherlock’s SARS-CoV-2 Process

Cambridge, Mass., June 2, 2021 – Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, today announced initial results from an automation study of its CRISPR-based test for SARS-CoV-2 in partnership with NorDx Laboratories, a member of MaineHealth – a recognized leader in New England and Maine’s largest integrated healthcare system. The study is the first-ever successful automation of a CRISPR test for high-throughput, and automating Sherlock’s assay enables laboratories to test clinical samples from thousands of patients a day on a single system, streamlining workflows and improving patient outcomes.

“We believe that Sherlock’s CRISPR-based technology holds promise as a potential answer to high volume testing needs,” said Robert Carlson, M.D., medical director at NorDx. “Fighting the pandemic requires testing methods that can be easily automated for high-throughput and rapidly adapt to new and emerging variants.”

The Sherlock CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 test kit is designed for use in laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), 42 U.S.C. §263a, to perform high complexity tests. Based on the SHERLOCK method, which stands for Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing, the kit works by programming a CRISPR nuclease to detect the presence of a specific genetic signature – in this case, the genetic signature for SARS-CoV-2 – in a nasal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, oropharyngeal swab or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimen. When the signature is found, the CRISPR enzyme is activated and cuts reporter RNAs provided as part of the kit to release a detectable signal, yielding results in about an hour.

“Because Sherlock holds the most comprehensive IP position in CRISPR diagnostics, we are in a unique position to enable partners to achieve highly-automated and point-of-care solutions for any molecular diagnostic test” said Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences. “We are excited by these initial results and look forward to partnering with the NorDx team to further demonstrate that our robust method can be easily automated to provide a fast, user-friendly and inexpensive method for containing the pandemic through rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2.”

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to providing global access to the simplest and most accurate tests that empower individuals to control their own healthcare. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, the company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method for “smart amplicon detection,” and INSPECTR™, a synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests and disease detection in the field. In 2020, the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

About MaineHealth:

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit integrated health system in Maine and New Hampshire consisting of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,700 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With close to 22,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, Maine, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, Maine, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, Maine, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, Maine, NorDx in Scarborough, Maine, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Maine, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Maine, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook, Maine, and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. Maine. MaineHealth Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, Maine, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland, Maine, and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland, Maine. Go to www.mainehealth.org to learn more.

Contact

Katie Engleman, 1AB

katie@1abmedia.com

From a cleaner freight train to an automated beehive, a way to recycle fabric, and other bold,

new technologies, the 5th annual awards honor the products, concepts, companies, policies, and designs that are pursuing innovation for the good of society and the planet.

Cambridge, Mass., May 4, 2021 — Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, has been named a finalist in the “On the Rise” and honorable mention in the “Health and Pandemic Response” categories for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit as part of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards, announced today. These awards honor the businesses, policies, projects and concepts that are actively engaged and deeply committed to pursuing innovation when it comes to solving health and climate crises, social injustice or economic inequality.

Sherlock Biosciences’ SARS-CoV-2 test utilizes the SHERLOCK diagnostic platform, which can achieve single molecule detection of nucleic acid targets; its name stands for Specific High Sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing. SHERLOCK utilizes CRISPR activity for “smart amplicon detection” and can be adapted for use with existing diagnostic instruments, improving time to result due to its significant multiplexing capacity. When a specific sequence of DNA or RNA is present, a CRISPR enzyme is activated and, much like a pair of scissors, starts cutting nearby genetic material, releasing a fluorescent signal that indicates a positive result. In May 2020, Sherlock received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the test kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology.

Now in its fifth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 33 winners, more than 400 finalists, and more than 800 honorable mentions—with Health and Wellness, AI & Data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 4,000 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology and more. Plus, several new categories were added, including Pandemic Response, Urban Design and Architecture. The 2021 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Brazil to Denmark to Vietnam.

Showcasing some of the world’s most inventive entrepreneurs and companies tackling exigent global challenges, Fast Company’s Summer 2021 issue (on newsstands May 10) highlights, among others, a lifesaving bassinet; the world’s largest carbon sink, thanks to carbon-eating concrete; 3D-printed schools; an at-home COVID-19 testing kit; a mobile voting app; and the world’s cleanest milk.

“Earlier this year, we were honored to be named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies; now, we’re equally honored to be named a finalist and honorable mention for this year’s World Changing Ideas alongside many impressive industry peers,” said Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences. “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect communities and families around the globe, we are proud to continue to innovate technologies that will help to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus worldwide and empower individuals to take control of their healthcare in situations where it otherwise would not be possible.”

“There is no question our society and planet are facing deeply troubling times. So, it’s important to recognize organizations that are using their ingenuity, impact, design, scalability, and passion to solve these problems,” says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Our journalists, under the leadership of senior editor Morgan Clendaniel, have discovered some of the most groundbreaking projects that have launched since the start of 2020.”

About the World Changing Ideas Awards

World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to providing global access to the simplest and most accurate tests that empower individuals to control their own healthcare. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, the company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method for “smart amplicon detection,” and INSPECTR™, a synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests and disease detection in the field. In 2020, the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio.

Contact

Katie Engleman, 1AB

katie@1abmedia.com

Non-invasive, Saliva-based COVID-19 CRISPR Biosensor to Provide Clinical Performance Comparable to Benchmark Standard Tests without Need for Power or Instrumentation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2021 – The 221b Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Sherlock Biosciences to address the global COVID-19 pandemic while promoting diverse representation in STEM, and LogicInk, a lifestyle sensor company developing bio-chemical Signals that can be worn or applied daily, today announced the organizations have entered into a license agreement to enable LogicInk to utilize Sherlock Biosciences’ CRISPR technology to develop an instrument-free diagnostic biosensor for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

“At Sherlock Biosciences, we recognize the critical role that testing has and will continue to play in mitigating the spread of Covid-19,” said Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences and founding board member of The 221b Foundation. “CRISPR has demonstrated tremendous promise as a diagnostic tool with rapid, multiplexing capabilities, and because Sherlock holds the most comprehensive IP position in CRISPR diagnostics, we launched the 221b Foundation to ensure that organizations interested in aiding the fight are able to access our technology. We are thrilled to partner with LogicInk to address the critical need for improved testing during the pandemic, as well as further the advancement of STEM education in young women, girls and minorities using proceeds from any resulting sales.”

Combining Sherlock’s proprietary CRISPR diagnostic technology with LogicInk’s DNA nanotechnology proprietary platform may enable entire populations to self-administer and screen for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (COVID-19) simply by identifying an appropriate color combination. Because LogicInk’s solution can be efficiently mass-produced and does not require instrumentation, it is financially and logistically feasible to test entire populations for COVID-19. The sensitivity of the test is designed to be comparable to the benchmark standard solutions without requiring a centralized laboratory or expert users to be involved.

“There is tremendous financial and logistical need for an easy-to-use test that does not require any testing cartridges or other complex devices to support large-scale, decentralized testing for COVID-19,” said Carlos Olguin, founder and CEO of LogicInk. “Last year, the Sherlock team made history with the first FDA authorization of CRISPR, and we’re excited to combine this same technology with our own to develop a rapid, instrument-free test that can be leveraged in a range of venues, including at home and in point-of-care settings like doctor’s offices, pharmacies and mobile clinics.”

The SHERLOCK diagnostic platform can achieve single molecule detection of nucleic acid targets; its name stands for Specific High Sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing. SHERLOCK utilizes CRISPR activity for “smart amplicon detection” and can be adapted for use with existing diagnostic instruments, improving time to result due to its significant multiplexing capacity. When a specific sequence of DNA or RNA is present, a CRISPR enzyme is activated and, much like a pair of scissors, starts cutting nearby genetic material, releasing a fluorescent signal that indicates a positive result. In May 2020, Sherlock received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology.

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to providing global access to the simplest and most accurate tests that empower individuals to control their own healthcare. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, the company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method for “smart amplicon detection,” and INSPECTR™, a synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests and disease detection in the field. In 2020, the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

About LogicInk

LogicInk is a lifestyle sensor company, developing non-invasive tattoo-like biosensors called “Signals” that help consumers track and measure their bodies and the environments around them. Powered by programmable chemistry and biology, LogicInk Signals display a real-time readout on a person’s accumulation of UV exposure, pollution, hydration levels, alcohol consumption awareness (NIH funded), and more. We envision a future where LogicInk Signals seamlessly integrate into daily life, allowing us to see the invisible and take action to live a longer and healthier life. Backed by a team of world renowned physicists, chemists, designers, computer scientists, synthetic biologists, and physicians, LogicInk is headquartered in San Francisco, with partners and collaborators located around the world. For more information, visit logic.ink.

Sherlock Media Contact

Katie Engleman, 1AB

katie@1abmedia.com

LogicInk Media Contact

James Christopherson

james@logic.ink