Building the next big Conglomerate

CEO Adeel Dhedhi Bhyria was honored to be invited to share his insights and suggestions on the effective distribution of the potential COVID-19 vaccines at a press briefing held by the Presidential Spokesperson.

CHIEF Executive Officer of SAHAR International Trading Inc. (Sahar Pharma) and President of DEEL Corporation – Adeel Dhedhi Bhyria is a Singaporean businessman of Pakistani descent that has been at the helm of his companies’ robust operations, leading the companies to exponential growth and expansion by introducing innovative and future-ready products and services to their growing portfolio. These include new and upcoming ventures complementary to our existing line of businesses as well as entry in completely new sectors such as biotech and energy” said CEO Adeel Dhedhi Bhyria. In his role, he oversees his companies’ overall visions, strategies, and directions to build the companies into dynamic world- class enterprises with professional and progressive corporate culture and discipline. Fuelling his companies’ growth with a focused management and streamlined operations driven by technology and data, they are always ready to move rapidly in response to customers’ changing needs and demands. Adeel Dhedhi Bhyria sees the current pandemic as a way to expand and better serve the community. “COVID-19 allowed us to take on new challenges for the kind of products and services we provide in the Philippine market. Most importantly, we are still constantly learning and adapting as the situation and technology evolve.” he shared.

“Our product was one of the first RT-PCR kits to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines (FDA). That was one of our initial achievements, where we managed to register our RT- PCR kit for COVID-19 and introduce it to the Philippine market early on, following which we introduced numerous COVID-19 related products. Continuously delivering innovations, Our company was the first to launch Philippine’s first saliva-based antigen rapid test kit and is actively looking at future technologies for further enhancing the testing capabilities nationwide,” said Bhyria.

CEO'S VISION OF THE INNOVATIONS AHEAD

1. Point-of-care Molecular Testing with RT-LAMP

(RT-LAMP) is a high-throughput automated diagnostic assay developed by Oxford University for the in-vitro qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, as well as saliva and mouthwash specimens collected from individuals, whether asymptomatic or symptomatic of having COVID-19. The intended use of the test is very flexible as it can be performed as a point of care test without a laboratory and in settings such as mobile testing centers, primary care facilities, stadiums, large-scale events, schools, remote areas and more. For settings in which a laboratory or high-throughput is required such as in airports or for border control, it can easily be deployed so that tens and thousands of tests can be done daily. The test is based on a reverse transcription, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) technology for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Utilizing patent-pending OXLAMP technology, the reaction takes place in a single-tube format and simply requires heat bath at 65°C for 30 minutes followed by results reading based on color change or by a fluorescence reader. It can identify both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals if they are infected by COVID-19 with accurate results in 15-30 minutes. Regardless if you are needing to test 1,000 people daily or 50,000 people daily, the RT-LAMP kit makes it easily possible at places such as airports, schools, care-facilities, large-scale events and more with minimal complexity and cost. It is currently being used to test departing passengers at Heathrow Airport and Hong Kong International Airport as well as the English Premiere League. Unlike traditional RT-PCR testing which can take a minimum of 2 hours or even days with the use of complicated and expensive instruments, the RT-LAMP kit offers unparalleled reaction time with OXLAMP technology, results are available in 15-30 minutes, with positive results typically identified sooner – requiring only the use of a simple heating device.

The kit has received Philippines FDA certification and has regulatory approvals with MHRA in the UK (FDA Equivalent) and the CE Mark in the EU. Our results have already been validated and peer- reviewed to perform with 100% sensitivity without requiring a tedious RNA extraction procedure and 100% specificity due to a patent-pending molecular switch.

2. RT-PCR testing using saliva

Instead of nasal swabs, those who need to be tested for Covid-19 in the Philippines may soon have the option of offering their saliva sample, following the latest innovative product being offered by his company here. RESOLUTE 2.0 test kit has become the first RT-PCR COVID-19 test to be authorised by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for deep-throat saliva (DTS) SARS-CoV-2 testing due to its high sensitivity and specificity to SARS-CoV-2 despite a shortened laboratory processing time. Using DTS, specimen collection is much less invasive and more comfortable for patients than current collection through swabs inserted into the back of the nose or throat. DTS collection only requires patients to draw out saliva from deep within their throat and spit into a specimen bottle. This makes it easy-to-administer and allows patients to conduct the collection themselves without the supervision of medical professionals, therefore mitigating the risks of potential virus spread as well. The clinical performance of DTS is supported by clinical studies with tests conducted on DTS specimens were able to accurately identify all the known positive cases in the clinical studies. RESOLUTE 2.0, eliminates the need for extraction of viral RNA from patient test samples and minimises potential human errors while cutting down test delivery time by half when compared to other ‘gold standard’ conventional RT-PCR test kits. The test kit will be administered at a new COVID-19 testing lab that will open in Changi Airport in 2021 and speed up current testing capabilities and increase output samples to more than four times the output capacity of a lab using conventional RT-PCR tests. It is an industry-first direct multiplex RT-PCR COVID-19 test kit. Although there have been a number of reports and studies relating to the use of DTS specimens, most involved the off-label use of assays. This could be one reason for inconsistencies in the performance of DTS as a specimen. Saliva testing by RESOLUTE 2.0 was authorised based on a standardised DTS collection and assay workflow, which would ensure the consistency and accuracy of the performance.

3. Vaccine & Test Results Registry - Immunity Passport Platform

The Covid-19 crisis presents the largest logistical program in history, requiring billions of the earth’s population to be vaccinated in a short period of time and in many cases without any Vaccine Registry Management System in place. This could be a way of equipping the Philippines with a cutting edge vaccine registry management system, allowing for vaccines to be tracked, the coldchain to be maintained and the power of choice to be placed directly into the patient’s hands.

Vaccine Registry Management System (VRMS)

A Vaccine Registry Management System (VRMS) will provide a low cost system roll out of mass vaccination programs. Patient data can be kept safely with a blockchain based vaccine registry management system. A VRMS is easy to implement and creates a common vaccine tracking system linking private and public healthcare systems. The platform can be designed to provide a long term vaccine management registry system for all diseases requiring testing and vaccination including TB, flu, rabies, MMR etc. All lab tests can be uploaded into the blockchain, preventing fraud and allowing for an electronic verification system with history of all tests done.

Data Protection

Of absolute importance is the protection of patient data. User data such as passport, ID, vaccine record, past medical history and test results can be stored in the blockchain, encrypted and only accessible by the user. The platform will only store the username, contact and email address. No data concerning the physical location of the user is stored by the platform and the system does not give anyone access to the data except for the patients’ own data through a private key.

Alert System

Automated alert system. Many vaccines require two doses to be given. The platform will alert the user of the time of the next dose/vaccination. Should these parameters change, they will automatically be updated.

Tracking Vaccine Doses

An NFC tracking system, as well as a cold-chain location and temperature monitoring can allow the user to verify the authenticity and viability of the vaccine. This will allow increased safety and traceability in the case of adverse events.

Test Results in the blockchain

Testing will still form the primary way in which to manage this and other pandemics. Testing also establishes the ability to determine whether an immune response has occurred post-vaccination. The platform aims to stop the use of unverified tests results and ensure that laboratory testing is not compromised.

Adeel Dhedhi Bhyria believes that the Covid 19 crisis has created an opportunity for us to improve national healthcare systems, and in many cases to provide the first electronic medical registry system. Our vision is that a platform like this with an immunity passport can be used by the Philippines as a trusted way to verify tests results and vaccination status as information will be verified electronically in the blockchain.

In conclusion, the end result of the whole process culminates in an immunity passport, that can be used to access a user’s full electronic testing and vaccination history. Airlines, immigration, hospitals, insurance companies, restaurants, stadiums, schools and universities can access this information by simply scanning a QR code. Thereby allowing safe and quarantine- free travel and resumption of activities – providing the fastest way to open up borders and the economy.