BioMérieux bags endotoxin detector

Hyglos was founded in 2009 and specialises in the development and production of recombinant proteins used for the detection of endotoxins in pharmaceutical products. Endotoxins are a component of the outer membrane of certain Gram-negative bacteria and can cause high fevers. Therefore, injectable drugs and medical devices cannot contain any endotoxins. Today, endotoxins are detected with the help of reagents that are developed based on a purified blood fraction taken from a horseshoe crab (Limulidae). Lumulidae, which are endangered in Asia and protected in the United States, have blood that has the ability to coagulate in the presence of minute amounts of bacterial endotoxins.

Hyglos has developed an innovative method from recombinant proteins, which eliminates the need for Limulidae blood. It allows for the detection of the presence of endotoxins using a chain of completely standardised reactions. Moreover, Hyglos has developed a unique and original technology for detecting “masked” endotoxins. “We are convinced of the relevance of its innovative method. Its existing product portfolio has enriched our offering of microbiological control solutions for the pharmaceutical industry and medical devices,” states Nicolas Cartier, Head of BioMérieux’ Industry Unit.