Vivera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a California based pharmaceutical company, and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana today announced that they are working to obtain emergency FDA approval for a rapid testing kit for COVID-19.
The Coushatta Tribe of Lousiana's reservation is located primarily in Allen Parish. The Tribe owns and operates Coushatta Casino Resort there.
Here's a release from the company and the tribe:
Anticipating a substantial increase in United States cases of COVID-19, the two are working together to gain FDA emergency approval for the Vivera Pharmaceuticals powered by Pharmact AG CoV-2 Rapid Test, a novel rapid testing kit manufactured by Pharmact AG, a leading German manufacturer of rapid diagnostic testing kits.
As States around the country issue mandatory stay-at-home orders, and with no definitive end in sight to this global crisis, there will be a significant increase in the need for reliable testing to adequately serve those who need the most support. The CoV-2 Rapid Test provides results at 20 minutes, making it ideal for point of care testing and triage of large patient populations. This proprietary assay does not require additional equipment or use of already overburdened third-party laboratories.
Both groups firmly believe that addressing this pandemic requires decisive action on a national scale. Every part of the county has been deeply affected, with millions of Americans, and the communities they support, in need of immediate solutions.
"Vivera's focus on patient health is why we look forward to working closely with the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. Vivera is here to support Tribal leaders and their efforts in ensuring healthcare for not only their people, but those across the country that are affected. As more cases of community infections develop, healthcare providers need to stay ahead of the diagnostic curve," stated Paul Edalat, CEO of Vivera Pharmaceuticals.
"As the First People of this land we carry the genetic memory of the devastation pandemics cause, but in this present moment of crisis we are one tribe," said David Sickey, Tribal Chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. "COVID-19 does not discriminate. The virus doesn't care what ethnicity we are or what our political ideology is. We are facing an invisible enemy that we must unite to defeat. The CoV-2 Rapid Test brings visibility to this faceless foe so that our heroes on the frontlines, the doctors, nurses and first responders, know where to take the fight and how to treat our fellow citizens who have contracted the virus. Fear is stoked by the unknown. With these tests we can reduce the fear factor for people across the United States."
Vivera and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana expect to begin offering the Rapid Test as early as this week under the temporary approval mechanisms set forth by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization guidelines.
For more information regarding the Vivera Pharmaceuticals powered by Pharmact AG CoV-2 Rapid Test, and ordering information for healthcare providers, please visit viverapharma.com.
