In December 2021, Qlife signed an agreement with FIND for $ 3.45 million for a 12-month project with the goal of developing a new and cost-effective two-in-one test for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 virus detection in decentralized care environments in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Funding to date has been paid out in two milestone payments amounting to 2.55 MUSD.

To move into the next phase, i.e., initiate clinical studies, the assay must have reached design freeze and technical adjustments must have been made to the optics. Due to delays within these developments, it is no longer possible to finalize within the current timeframe ending December 2022.

Qlife is in close dialogue with FIND to clarify whether the last milestone of 0.9 MUSD can be paid-out upon completion in 2023 instead. Until further funding is secured, Qlife has decided to put the project on hold.

"Both FIND and Qlife have a solid interest in bringing the product to the market, particularly in the LMIC, as a future platform for decentralized testing for respiratory diseases. However, in the current financial situation, Qlife is only able proceed with projects with a clear financing plan and a sustainable roadmap that goes beyond the development and regulatory stages. We need to focus our human and financial resources. As a result, we have now decided to await new financing until we can complete the last milestone ", says Thomas Warthoe, CEO of Qlife.