OpenAI Restricts Astra AI Over Cyberattack Risks 
Alibaba Plans Revenue-Sharing Model for Qwen3.8-Max AI Commercial Users 
Asian Stocks Slip as AI Rally Fades, Oil Holds Steady on Iran Peace Deal Hopes 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await U.S. Jobs Data 
US Dollar Falls as Weak July Jobs Report Dents Fed Rate Hike Bets 
AMP Shares Surge 13% After Strong Profit and A$150 Million Buyback 
Alphabet Stock Slides as Google AI Pioneer Jeff Dean Exits to Launch Discovery Loop 
Western Digital Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates as FY2027 Outlook Tops Expectations 
SoftBank Q1 Profit Beats Forecast as Intel Rally and OpenAI Investments Boost Returns 
China Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts in July as Exports Stay Strong 
Asian Stocks Mixed as Chip Selloff Hits KOSPI, Nikkei Ahead of US Jobs Data 
US Yen Intervention Unlikely to Deliver Lasting Recovery, Yardeni Says 
US Stock Futures Rise as Markets Await July Payrolls Data 
Qantas Shares Climb as Long-Haul Pilot Deal Eases Strike Concerns 
Novo Nordisk Raises 2025 Outlook Despite Wegovy Pill Miss and CagriSema Setback 
Mercedes-Benz Stock Offers Deep-Value Potential as Citi Sees Recovery Catalysts 
Oil Prices Slip as Hormuz Shipping Progress and Rising U.S. Crude Stocks Weigh on Market 
Celltrion revealed on Thursday, Sept. 23, that it would be supplying its rapid COVID-19 test kit called DiaTrust to the US government. This happened after the nation’s Department of Defense awarded the contract to them.
The South Korean biopharma stated that starting October 1st, its American division, Celltrion USA, will begin delivering the DiaTrust rapid test kits to 25,000 locations. The sites include nursing homes, coronavirus testing centers, and military facilities.
According to The Korea Herald, based on the agreement signed by Celltrion and the US Defense Logistics Agency, the United States could purchase additional kits if necessary. For the initial supply, the amount of the contract is said to be $626.61 million or 738.2 billion in Korean won.
Details for the initial order, like how many would be delivered was not disclosed. However, the publication stated that Bloomberg mentioned that the deal was for a total of 19 million DiaTrust test kits. With its contract with the DOD, Celltrion became the US’ largest supplier of rapid COVID-19 test kits.
“The fact that we were awarded a procurement contract by the DLA after having passed its strict screen process is a recognition of Celltrion’s technology and supply capability,” Celltrion USA chief executive officer, Bonjoong Kim, said in a press release. “With the COVID-19 pandemic still not showing signs of waning, we plan to focus on executing this contract as diligently as possible and further solidify the external credibility of Celltrion’s diagnostic test kits portfolio.”
It was added that the DiaTrust kits that will be delivered through this deal are point-of-care tests (POCT). This means that the COVID-19 rapid test will only be used in the presence of medical professionals. Apparently, this is for safety and to ensure that the process is done properly for more accurate results.
As per Pulse News, DiaTrust was jointly developed by Celltrion and Humasis, a Korean R&D company. The test kit was authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use last April.
Finally, Celltrion’s DiaTrust rapid COVID-19 kit is an antigen test that is used in medical settings. It can reveal the results on the spot since it only takes as little as 15 minutes to complete.
