Yeh Kenneth B, Scullion Matt, Michelotti Julia M, Olinger Gene
MRIGlobal, Gaithersburg, MD, United States.
BioFire Defense, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Mar 25;8:639440. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.639440. eCollection 2021.
The current unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of diagnostic assays in health security preparedness and readiness. Advancing new technologies for rapid molecular detection of high consequence infectious pathogens is an ongoing challenge that requires ingenuity and vision. Sustainment of a robust supply chain for materials and the logistics of timely product delivery further challenge diagnostic kit and device manufacturers. Business economists often characterize technology companies that discover unique breakthroughs in their field and are first to bring related products to market as first movers. From a market perspective, three first mover characteristics include: having the knowledge and capability to address a unique breakthrough, excellent technological leadership, and the ability to capitalize on the opportunity. Current mainstays for molecular detection include using Taq DNA Polymerase enzyme and fluorescent chemistry for quantitative PCR (qPCR). A newer and promising technology uses CRISPR-Cas proteins for nucleic acid detection. Our panel discussion from the 2020 ASM Biothreats conference, which included members from two prototypical first mover companies, explored their respective corporate experiences. Both companies were selected for the discussion based on their revolutionary innovations and similarities in their research and development, corporate culture and trajectory. One company, established over 20 years ago, became a market leader in the biothreat detection market by advancing air thermocycling qPCR across multiple product families. The second company is a rapidly growing start-up and a scientific pioneer in establishing next generation CRISPR technologies. Here we discuss their technology development, product deployment, and customer markets to draw lessons learned for researchers, end users, and funders.
当前前所未有的新冠疫情凸显了诊断检测在卫生安全防范与准备工作中的重要性。推进用于快速分子检测高致病性传染性病原体的新技术是一项持续的挑战，需要创造力和远见卓识。维持强大的材料供应链以及及时交付产品的物流工作，给诊断试剂盒和设备制造商带来了进一步的挑战。商业经济学家通常将那些在其领域发现独特突破并率先将相关产品推向市场的科技公司称为先行者。从市场角度来看，先行者具有三个特点：具备解决独特突破的知识和能力、卓越的技术领导力以及利用机会的能力。目前分子检测的主要方法包括使用Taq DNA聚合酶和荧光化学进行定量聚合酶链反应（qPCR）。一种更新且有前景的技术是使用CRISPR-Cas蛋白进行核酸检测。我们在2020年美国微生物学会生物威胁会议上的小组讨论，其中包括来自两家典型先行者公司的成员，探讨了它们各自的公司经历。这两家公司都是基于其革命性创新以及在研发、企业文化和发展轨迹方面的相似性而被选入讨论的。一家公司成立于20多年前，通过在多个产品系列中推进空气热循环qPCR成为生物威胁检测市场的领导者。第二家公司是一家快速发展的初创企业，也是建立下一代CRISPR技术的科学先驱。在此我们讨论它们的技术发展、产品部署和客户市场，以便为研究人员、终端用户和资助者吸取经验教训。
