FRANCE – In the last twenty years, digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) technology has given hopes to have potential applications in genetic engineering, cell biology and medical diagnostics.
In this context, Paris, France‐based life sciences company Stilla Technologies is providing digital dPCR solutions for high‐precision genetic analysis. Since 2016, the company has been targeting the $2‐billion digital PCR market providing research organizations with specialized in molecular biology and genetic analysis via its Naica System, a digital PCR solution that enables scientists to detect and quantify DNA mutations with precision. The system supports a wide range of genetic tests and molecular biology assays — including liquid biopsy tests for cancer diagnostics, viral load quantification, pre‐natal testing, and GMO detection. Naica runs on the company’s genetic testing and nucleic acid quantification technology, Crystal Digital™ PCR, and can characterize multiple types of nucleic acids with its three‐color detection capability. Stilla launched the first generation of the system in 2016 and generated first revenues in 2017. The company also advises and supports its customers worldwide through a multidisciplinary R&D team, with expertise spanning from microfluidics to chemistry, including molecular biology and AI. In February 2020, Stilla raised €20m ($22m) in Series B funding round that brought in Chinese group TUS‐Holdings as a new investor, with participation from existing investors Illumina Ventures, Kurma Partners, LBO France, Paris Saclay Seed Funds, BNP Paribas Développement and Idinvest Partners. The company is using the funds to continue its development efforts for its solutions. Led by Rémi Dangla, CEO, Stilla Technologies has also addressed these unpredented times by developing a highly sensitive SARS-CoV-2 detection kit, which is intended for qualitative detection of reported conserved viral nucleic acid sequences, Nucleoprotein N (FAM) and ORF1ab (HEX). Using the same Crystal Digital PCR™, the kit includes reagents, Sapphire chips, and COVID-19 positive and negative controls. According to the company, it has emerged as an alternative to the traditional qPCR technique. Tests indicate a specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 sequences down to 5 copies per 25µl reaction (equivalent to 0.2 cp/µl) for ORF1ab and for Nucleoprotein N: down to 7 copies per 25µl reaction (equivalent to 0.28 cp/µl)).03/08/2020
