AAZ, En Carta partner on rapid STI tests

By AI, Created 2:55 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – AAZ and En Carta Diagnostics have signed a co-development and commercialization deal to bring rapid molecular chlamydia and gonorrhea screening tests to Europe within three years. The companies are targeting use in primary care, pharmacies and at home, aiming to make STI testing faster, easier and more accessible.

Why it matters: - Chlamydia and gonorrhea remain major public health problems in Europe and globally. - Rapid, decentralized testing could speed diagnosis, support earlier care and reduce stigma around STI screening. - The partnership targets a market need for molecular-quality testing outside centralized labs, including in pharmacies, primary care and at home.

What happened: - AAZ and En Carta Diagnostics signed a co-development and commercialization agreement. - The companies plan to launch a new generation of chlamydia and gonorrhea screening tests in Europe within the next three years. - The tests are designed to deliver lab-like molecular accuracy in under 30 minutes. - The intended settings include primary care, pharmacies and home use.

The details: - The collaboration includes an initial financial commitment, clinical trials and a plan for commercial rollout across Europe. - The partners project volumes of several million units over five years. - The tests will use En Carta Diagnostics’ proprietary molecular platform to detect pathogen nucleic acids directly. - The technology is designed to avoid complex laboratory infrastructure. - AAZ brings experience in development, validation, certification and commercialization of rapid diagnostic tests. - En Carta Diagnostics contributes product design and rapid synthetic molecular biology expertise. - Dr. Joseph Coulloc’h, CEO of AAZ, said the deal marks a new stage in AAZ’s development and aims to bring reliable, easy-to-use screening to a wider population. - Guillaume Horréard, CEO of En Carta Diagnostics, said the partnership fits En Carta’s mission to move diagnostics closer to patients and relieve pressure on centralized healthcare systems.

Between the lines: - The deal reflects a broader push toward prevention-focused healthcare and decentralized diagnostics. - The focus on rapid molecular testing suggests both companies are aiming to close the gap between speed, convenience and lab-level performance. - The emphasis on access also points to pressure on European health systems and uneven testing availability for some populations.

What’s next: - The companies will move into clinical trials and product development. - A European launch is expected within three years if development stays on track. - The partnership is aimed at building a new category of highly accurate molecular screening tests that can be used where the patient is. - The rollout could expand to several million units over five years if commercialization succeeds.