Nexsen’s (ASX: NXN) Hong Kong subsidiary has been awarded a $1.2 million government grant to advance its StrepSure rapid point-of-care diagnostic for Group B streptococcus (GBS) in maternal health.
The funding will be applied to the regional development and optimisation of StrepSure, including tailoring the device performance and design to meet the specific clinical and workflow requirements of Asia-Pacific markets.
It will facilitate the immediate start of clinical validation through Hong Kong’s established hospital network and establish a local manufacturing capability to support scalable production and regional supply.
These activities will generate real-world performance data while advancing Nexsen toward commercial readiness and initial commercialisation in the Asia-Pacific.
Priority Manufacturing Market
Nexsen has identified Hong Kong as a priority market and long-term manufacturing and distribution base for its point-of-care diagnostics, supported by strong clinical infrastructure, favourable regulatory pathways, and targeted government support.
The country offers a clear and efficient regulatory pathway for in vitro diagnostics, supporting a more streamlined path to commercial deployment by allowing products to be approved based on local clinical validation, performance data, and recognised quality standards.
Nexsen has established relationships with clinicians and healthcare networks that it expects to support the rollout of the company’s clinical and commercial strategy across the region.
Managing director Mark Muzzin said the grant was a strong validation of Nexsen’s strategy to position Hong Kong as a central hub for product manufacturing and distribution.
“This grant gives us the ability to move quickly on clinical validation and establish an in-region manufacturing capability, bringing StrepSure closer to commercial readiness and supporting early regional adoption across Asia-Pacific—a significant addressable market for us,” he said.
Unmet Maternal Health Need
GBS is one of the most consequential unmet worldwide clinical needs in maternal health, and a leading cause of serious neonatal injury or death.
Timely identification of maternal GBS colonisation during labour remains a recognised clinical challenge, with the current standard of care relying on slow lab-dependent testing, depriving clinicians of key information when they need it most.
Similarly, antenatal screening performed weeks prior to delivery often fails to reflect colonisation status at the time of birth.
Testing close to delivery using a device such as StrepSure can support appropriate clinical decision-making—including targeted use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis—with the aim of reducing neonatal GBS infection.
Current research shows there are approximately 132 million births per year globally, with an estimated one-in-five pregnant women having GBS.
