Azooka Labs COVID-19 Full Stack Solution

Problem: There are no focused COVID-19 Kits for Developing Countries 

1. COVID-19 Screening and Diagnostic tests are focused on cities. There is a need for Low power Molecular grade kits to localise testing and contain outbreaks and monitor them constantly. 
2. Kits and tests from HIG countries assume in resilient power systems and cold chain based transport network that is absent in developing countries.

Solution : Azooka DX Series offers a full stack low power molecular grade kits that work with low resource setting and minimally trained staff

Azooka Dx Series offers four products ranging for combating COVID-19 Crisis

1. RNA WRAPR : Molecular Transport Medium
2. RNA Etc : RNA Extraction Kit
3. SABr : Saliva based Rapid Antigen Test
4. tinto rang RT-LAMP: Colorimetric LAMP for visual detection without devices

Global Scale :

The population in developing countries are more than developed nation. 

COVID-19 Crisis in India. 

Lack of RT-PCR Devices Delays Testing and Increases Transport Burden

There are around 103 Tier 2 and 3 cities with an average population of 100000. As there are not enough centers to process COVID-19 samples. The collected samples  are packed with Dry Ice and Gel Pac Transported to cities to be processed in RT-PCR devices.

Sample Integrity Compromised due Cold Storage and Transport Systems 

Developing countries with tropical climates do NOT have adequate cold storage and transport systems. Frequent power failures and long restoration times adds to loss of sample integrity factors.

Contaminants due to lack of Molecular Grade Transport Medium 

 VIral Transport Mediums are nutrition based media that keeps the virus alive, and transport a live wire strain to RT-PCR labs. The risk involved in transporting and handling more virulent airborne COVID-19 strains are multifold and unwanted. 

Primary Healthcare Centers and Remote Locations with Low Resource Settings.

PHC does not have expensive devices and minimally trained staff. PHC are unable to serve the masses in need. 

1. Reverse Transcriptase LAMP Kit for Screening at Primary Healthcare Center

tinto rang Colorimetric LAMP Test kit used Loop Mediated Iso-thermal Amplification technique to show color change indicate COVID-19 positive. It is sensitive to detect 5 copies of viral RNA. LAMP Detection does not requires any devices. 

2. Saliva based Rapid Antigen Test to Control Entry/ Exit Points 

SABr is a saliva based non-invasive test for reopening the workplaces and mass transit systems such as Buses, Trains, Malls, and Schools. 

3. Molecular Transport Medium with Room Temperature Storage 

RNA WRAPR is an ICMR validated, CE certified Molecular Transport Medium being used Sample collection kit. It has already shipped 150000 units without contamination. 

4. RNA Extraction Kit : Efficient kit with better Yields

RNA Etc is a simple and cost effective RNA extraction kit designed to work with all Viral Transport Mediums.

Target Population : Tier 2, 3 and Remote locations

The population of  Tier 2 cities ranges from  500000 to 700000 and Tier 3 cities range from 200000 to 500000 . As diagnostic and screening tests have to be done repeatedly the problem multiplies. Incase of  COVID-19 testing samples collected in smaller cities and villages are transported to Tier 1 cities repeatedly. 

Underserved as COVID-19 requires repeated testing

With multiple COVID-19 strains the entire population residing in tier 2 and tier 3 are run the risk of infection and needs to be tested to monitor and control the pandemic

Infrastructure and Import Dependence bears a toll

Power Supplies failure, lack of cold storage and untrained staff to handle crisis situations. India is an import dependent market for biotech products. The long term dependence on China created systems shocks with supplies running out for weeks. 

COVID-19 Crisis is the biggest health problem faced by India so far 

The COVID-19 Crisis in Tier 2, Tier 3 and Remote locations is elevated and deadly, new strains are surprising scientists. With Devices and Trained staff constraints, testing and processing is being pushed to Tier 1 cities diagnostic centers and hospitals that are already burdened. 

Low Power Mol Bio kits can help Monitor and Manage COVID-19 Crisis 

Low Power Molecular Biology kits falls in WHO framework of approved molecular biology techniques and pushes Screening and Diagnostic test to local network and Primary Healthcare centers. 

Growth : RNA WRAPR is used by 

1. Metropolis Labs, one of the largest Diagnostic lab chain in India 
2. Lotus Diagnostic Centre: Specialty Clinic
3. Shankara Cancer Research Centre and Hospitals 
4. Orbito Asia : Remote Sample collection 

Low Power and Low Price to increase Reach 

 Low Power Molecular Biology Test kits to combat COVID-19 in Low and Middle Income Countries is unique. The products are priced to match essential commodities like a litre of bottled water or Gasoline 

 Innovation without Reaching Masses is useless 

 Although there are a few companies that may have parallel products in the portfolio it is not accessible, usable at tropical temperatures, and priced about the reach of millions of people in need.

 Catalytic Effect : Rupee based Economy vs $ based 

 The problems listed for India remain at large for most of the countries. The products are designed to manage COVID-19 with low budgets. Innovation that is not available and accessible to all is not meaningful.

We are shipping 2 lakh units per month and have a capacity of serving 2 lakh units per week. At this rate we would reach 

1. 10 million in one year and

2. 50 million in 5 years

Key Performance Indicators to measure Progress towards Good health and wellbeing

1. Increase early detection for infectious and communicable diseases

2. Increase number of customer for low power diagnostic and screening kits

3. Number of Customers acquired from competitors for high performance and optimal pricing

Full time Staff- 13 people make our full time team that include molecular biologists, quality control, marketing and business development and manufacturing

Advisors/part time- 4 advisors who mentor us on a day to day basis for problems in technology and business

We have dedicated teams to handle

1.  research and development/product development

2. Manufacturing and Regulatory

3. Marketing and Business Development

The R&D team led by Dr. Fathima Benazir ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-fathima-benazir-j-16808230/)  has biotechnologists, molecular biologists, virologist and chemist as core team and advisors who have expertise in the domain from 5 years to upto 40 years. This stellar team helps us resolve all technical issues with our solution, troubleshooting and innovation based on hands-on experience. The inputs of these team members have resulted in developing products at a fast pace. Our products have been validated by ICMR during the first submission itself. User feedback has also been very much positive.

The members of the manufacturing and  regulatory team are experienced postgraduates who ensure the quality of the products and have regular discussions with consultants for regulatory approvals.

The Marketing and business development is led by Alex D Paul (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexdpaul)  who has 12 years plus experience in worldwide marketing at Zoho Corp. 

Our Advisors:

1. Prof. H. S Savithri,  Prof. Emeritus, IISc. https://iiscprofiles.irins.org/profile/54374

2. Dr. C V Natraj, ex vice president, Unilever UK

https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/19851453

1. Dr. Usha N

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Usha-Natraj

1. Prof. MRN Murthy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._R._N._Murthy

Azooka is Women-led company. Dr. Fathima Benazir is the co-founder and  Chief scientific officer with majority stake and has 25 years of experience in molecular biology and biotechnology. Mr. Alex D Paul Co founder and CEO has worldwide marketing experience from a software company Zoho. Our marketing and brand head was from the fashion technology background who brought innovative and novel ideas and inputs to our brand. We strongly believe in equity inclusion and diversity as most of our employees are women and from different cultural and societal backgrounds. The dots in the logo of azooka is actually azooka in braille. These are some examples to highlight that we have taken an approach of inclusivity, equity and inclusion from the day of inception of our organisation.

We are applying to MIT Solve for 

• Access to Funding 
• Global Partnership Network 
• Get global recognition 

Azooka is the only fluorophore company from APAC. We are designing fluorophores for Life Sciences Research and Molecular Diagnostics. We would like to partners with MIT for developing Cutting edge products such as Fluor tags for biomarkers and in-vivo imaging dyes used in Diagnostics. 

We would like to Partner with the following Device Vendors as we have safer, high performance Genomics Consumables

• Thermofisher Scientifc
• Danaher Corp
• Perkin Elmer
• Merck Life sciences : Sigma Aldrich for global distribution

Partner with MIT

We would like to partners with team working on fluorophores for Proteins and FISH for Chromosomes.

Dr. Fathima Benazir is Majority Stake Holder at Azooka who has inspired the team with Science and products to market. 

We plan to use the innovation Prize for US expansion. 

Azooka is part of Indian Institute of Science COVID-19 Response Team

We were deployed to market to manufacture RNA WRAPR a Molecular Transport Medium to combat COVID-19 Crisis. 

https://covid19.iisc.ac.in/rap...

INDX : Indian Biotech Manufacturers Program

We have Zero dependence on China-based raw materials. By Appointment, we have also developed new Mol Bio products for India to overcome the Chinese power play in COVID-19 Supply Chain. China is Major supplier of Raw materials for most of the India developed kits. 

https://www.ccamp.res.in/