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Pharmacy partnership will save lives


By Calum MacLeod

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A community pharmacy in Inverness is teaming up with a pioneering research business to help speed up the development of new technology that could have a potentially global impact.

Lochardil Pharmacy is to become a sample collection point for volunteers enrolled in clinical research with biotech firm ODx Innovations.

The research will not only help ODx grow its workforce at its Inverness Campus facility, it will also allow the company to obtain regulatory approval for the rapid test it is developing to help urinary tract infection (UTI) patients.

Across the EU, 33,000 people die each year from drug-resistant infections. The ODx test can help decide whether treatment is needed or not, reducing antibiotic misuse.

If treatment is needed, it can help medical staff chose the most effective antibiotic more quickly than current practice allows.

Pharmacy manager Lisa MacPherson said: “We recognise the value of the research and it is exciting to be able to collaborate with ODx.

“At the moment if someone has a suspected UTI an antibiotic will be prescribed, and a sample sent for testing. It can then take up to three days for the results to come back and confirm whether the prescription given was the right one.

“It would make a massive difference for a patient to be able to get the right antibiotic after an hour – and not three days. With a UTI, especially in older patients, your condition can deteriorate very quickly. It is really important to get the right treatment as soon as you can.”

ODx chief technology officer Dr Ben Wicks said: “It is a tremendous boost to our work to have the support of pharmacies and the NHS to secure these vital samples from willing patients who suffer from UTIs. Over 13,000 tests for UTIs are performed in the Inverness area each year.

“We hope ODx technology will make a really positive impact for people in the Highlands, Islands and Moray who are supporting our development work. By collaborating locally, we can make a difference globally.

“Lochardil are established as a friendly community pharmacy and recently won community pharmacy of the year at the 2020 Scottish Pharmacy Awards, demonstrating their commitment to their local residents and businesses. We are thrilled to be working with their team.”

ODx established its base at Inverness Campus in August 2019, with a £1.75 million investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

In July 2020, ODx announced 60 new jobs were being created to further develop its medical technology.

John Mitchell, director of Lochardil Pharmacy said: “It’s great that research and development which could make a difference globally is being carried out here in Inverness. These are difficult times, so it is good to see ODx thrive and help create jobs.

“We are delighted to be part of the effort to address this important need.


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