Lumos’ FebriDx joins trial of antibiotic prescribing by GPs for respiratory infections

Lumos Diagnostics’ FebriDx to be used in Australian university study aimed at reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections in primary care settings.

FebriDx joins Australian trial to cut antibiotic overuse for respiratory infections in primary care. Pic: Getty Images.

• Lumos’ FebriDx included in Australian trial aimed at reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections in primary care

• FebriDx tests are part of a suite of interventions being assessed in University of Wollongong OPTIMA-GP trial

• First Australian study to use FebriDx rapid point-of-care test in a general practice primary care setting

Special Report: Lumos Diagnostics’ rapid point-of-care diagnostic FebriDx will be used in an Australian university study aimed at reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections in primary care settings.

FebrixDx, which is designed to differentiate between bacterial and non-bacterial acute respiratory infections, will be used as part of a major antimicrobial stewardship implementation trial led by the University of Wollongong (UOW).

Lumos Diagnostics (ASX:LDX), the developer of rapid, point-of-care testing, said the Optimal Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship in General Practice (OPTIMAS-GP) Trial aimed to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in Australian primary care.

To be conducted over five years the trial will be led by Professor Andrew Bonney and a team of researchers at UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine.

It will focus on practical, evidence-based strategies to safely reduce unnecessary antibiotic use for respiratory tract infections in general practice.

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First time FebriDx evaluated in Australian primary care setting

The trial is funded with $2.7 million from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) with FebriDx one of a suite of interventions being assessed.

Lumos said the study would start using FebriDx from July 2026 for a period of ~five months with the company providing ~2,000 test kits at a reduced cost

The company is not sponsoring the trial with FebriDx being evaluated for its acceptability and feasibility for use in Australian general practice to support appropriate antibiotic prescribing in acute respiratory infection cases.

FebriDx is a rapid point-of-care test that differentiates between viral and bacterial acute respiratory infections, enabling clinicians to make more informed prescribing decisions.

The company said this would be the first time FebriDx was formally evaluated in an Australian primary care setting.

Lumox is currently undertaking a CLIA waiver study of FebriDx in the US, which is anticipated to conclude in Q4 2025.

The study aims to secure CLIA waiver from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enable FebriDx to be used in a broader range of healthcare settings, including physician offices that do not operate under high-complexity laboratory certification.

Tackling growing problem of antimicrobial resistance

According to the World Health Organization antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – the ability of microbes to resist the effects of medication – poses a growing threat to global health.

A significant contributor to this crisis, Lumos said, was the inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics, particularly for acute respiratory infections in primary care settings.

Professor Bonney said general practitioners were at the forefront of combating antimicrobial resistance in Australia.

“We are excited about the potential of the OPTIMAS-GP Trial to assist GPs in this important role and pleased to be evaluating the implementation of FebriDx, among other interventions, to promote evidence-based GP anti-microbial stewardship,” he said.

Lumos managing director Doug Ward said the company was pleased to be supporting the trial.

“Participating in the OPTIMAS-GP trial reflects our commitment to equipping healthcare professionals with tools that promote evidence-based clinical decisions and better patient outcomes,” he said.

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Originally published as Lumos’ FebriDx joins trial of antibiotic prescribing by GPs for respiratory infections