The MAScIR Foundation, part of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), has announced the launch of the “UM6P-MAScIR MPOX qPCR” diagnostic kit, now ready for commercialization in Morocco and across Africa. Developed by the Foundation’s Center for Diagnostic Kits and Medical Devices, the kit has been clinically validated by the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and officially registered with Morocco’s Directorate of Medicines and Pharmacy (DMP) under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
The UM6P-MAScIR MPOX qPCR kit is an in vitro real-time PCR test used to detect the Mpox virus (formerly known as monkeypox), developed in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
“We are proud to introduce our Mpox diagnostic kit, developed at the MAScIR Foundation’s medical biotechnology center,” said Nawal Chraibi, General Director of MAScIR, during the launch event.
She highlighted that the MAScIR research team, with over a decade of experience, has previously developed a variety of diagnostic kits, including for tuberculosis, breast cancer, hepatitis C, and leukemia. This new kit is now authorized for production and sale, with the potential to significantly bolster health security in both Morocco and Africa, particularly given the rise of new Mpox variants affecting the continent.
Professor Abdeladim Moumen, Director of the Center for Diagnostic Kits at MAScIR, explained that the test’s real-time diagnostic capability, paired with 100% sensitivity and specificity, sets it apart. Each kit offers 50 reactions, and the Foundation can produce up to 6 million tests per month.
The Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation, and Research (MAScIR) is dedicated to promoting technological research in various fields, including materials science, nanomaterials, biotechnology, microelectronics, and life sciences. The Foundation focuses on applied research and innovation, aiming to meet market needs and transfer technology through spin-offs and start-ups, contributing to Morocco’s emerging knowledge-based economy.
