The UK firm has not completed a clinical trial yet but having raised over $350m from its NASDAQ initial public offering and an extra $160m from a private placement, Exscientia's future looks extremely bright.

Contrasting first-quarter preannouncements from a DNA sequencing company and a molecular diagnostics company may, with other seasonal pressures, imply a comparatively weak first quarter for therapeutic drug companies.

The LamPORE assay will also be used to test for the winter influenza virus.

Viral testing of swabs using PCR to confirm COVID-19 in individuals continues to be the main thrust of the UK’s coronavirus control efforts as it targets 100,000 and more tests a day. PCR alternatives and antibody testing will come into the picture more in the coming weeks.