(Bloomberg) --
U.K. pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline Plc and AstraZeneca Plc are in talks to set up a lab to explore new ways of testing for the coronavirus to help overcome shortages of diagnostic materials, according to a person with knowledge of the plans.
The drugmakers will evaluate the use of different raw materials needed to carry out the tests and use their know-how and resources to help other companies or the U.K.'s National Health Service increase production, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the details of the discussions aren't yet public.
U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock pledged Thursday to increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 a day by the end of April. The decision, announced at the government's daily press briefing, came after mounting criticism about the limited number of tests being done. Shortages of chemicals known as reagents and swabs used in tests have been blamed for delays.
As part of a new five-pillar approach to testing, Hancock said the government would work with pharmaceutical companies to help with the rapid increase.
“Our pharmaceutical giants like AstraZeneca and GSK, which have no great history in diagnostics, are now working with our world-leading, but small, diagnostics companies to build a British diagnostics industry at scale,” Hancock said.
A spokesman for AstraZeneca said in a statement Friday that the company had spoken with the government about helping and using its “in-house scientific capabilities to increase the effectiveness of the national testing effort,” but declined to comment on the specifics.
GSK has responded to requests to support U.K. efforts to expand testing for Covid-19, including providing lab equipment and scientific advice, the company said in a statement. While testing isn't a core activity, it is in discussions about other ways to help in the national effort, it said.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
