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My thoughts on the rumour are that an interim read out inclusion might give an opportunity to stop Ph3 trial for 'benefit', (although this might be triggered at any point). - see below:

source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024796/#:~:text=Ethically%2C%20clinical%20trials%20must%20sometimes,%2C%20benefit%2C%20and%20futility%20concerns.

Ethically, clinical trials must sometimes be stopped early when the results show no justification for exposing human subjects to additional potential risk by continuing the trial. The 3 ethics scenarios are based on safety, benefit, and futility concerns.

1.
Safety: The risks to human subjects unexpectedly outweigh the benefits because of unexpected severe adverse events. When the institutional review board (IRB) approves a trial, it has determined that it meets US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria for IRB approval at 21 CFR 56.111. Section (a)(2) states: “Risks to subjects are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits, if any, to subjects, and the importance of the knowledge that may reasonably be expected to result.”11 This determination changes when a study unexpectedly causes serious illness or death in human subjects. The study may then be suspended by the FDA, the sponsor, and/or the IRB until the risk-benefit ratio is reevaluated. An example is drug manufacturer Bial's phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers.12

2.
Benefit: The study hypothesis is unexpectedly proven early within predesignated criteria. Continuing to expose subjects in the inferior arm to additional potential risks or keeping them from benefitting from the therapies in the superior arm is hard to justify ethically. An example is the SPRINT study discussed above.

3.
Futility: The study hypothesis is unexpectedly shown to be unprovable within the constraints of the trial based on a statistical analysis of early study data, usually done at a planned interim analysis. In such cases, there is no benefit to balance against subjecting subjects to potential risks. An example is the cessation of the Verastem VX-6063 phase 2 clinical trial.
+++
Might the SNG001 phase 3 trial be stopped for Benefit reasons? - Recall that 3 patients died recently taking placebo in ph2 trials.

Three people died in the recent small phase 2 trial, - if more die in a larger phase 3 trial, the benefit criteria might be triggered.

Recommended: 23.11.2020 IATA presentation for future international air travel without quarantine,
with safety of passengers based on COVID-19 testing. - The IATA travel pass.
https://www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/pressroom/presentations/travel-pass/

British Airways and Iberia airlines have been assisting IATA with the following:

23 November 2020
IATA Travel Pass Key to Reopening Borders Safely

https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2020-11-23-01/

Key passages:
"Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it is in the final development phase of the IATA Travel Pass, a digital health pass that will support the safe reopening of borders.

Governments are beginning to use testing as a means of limiting the risks of COVID-19 importation when re-opening their borders to travellers without quarantine measures. IATA Travel Pass will manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travellers."

"IATA Travel Pass incorporates four open sourced and interoperable modules which can be combined for an end-to-end solution:

Global registry of health requirements – enables passengers to find accurate information on travel, testing and eventually vaccine requirements for their journey.
Global registry of testing / vaccination centres – enables passengers to find testing centres and labs at their departure location which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of their destination.
Lab App – enables authorized labs and test centres to securely share test and vaccination certificates with passengers.
Contactless Travel App - enables passengers to (1) create a ‘digital passport’, (2) receive test and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their itinerary, and (3) share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel. This app can also be used by travellers to manage travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout their journey, improving travel experience.
IATA and International Airlines Group (IAG), - [which includes British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Veuling], have been working together in the development of this solution and will undertake a trial to demonstrate that this platform combined with COVID-19 testing can reopen international travel and replace quarantine."
++++
Recommend reading this press release in full.
It is clear this is a major step in the right direction, and the system and platform demonstration is close.

From 16.11.2020 R&D Update RNS:

"Novacyt's LAMP offering is designed to be compatible with its q16 and q32 instruments.
The Company is also in active discussions with several potential partners who are seeking support to
develop, manufacture and supply LAMP tests for their instrument platforms."

Seems clear LAMP is flavour of the month, but Governments, aviation safety organisations and airport operators
have to make a consensus decision whether a LAMP (Nucleic acid amplification test), an LFT test
or In vitro Real-Time PCR diagnostic test is acceptable.
Presently individual nations testing requirements differ markedly, and thus globally the situation is chaotic.

For instance, this Independent article
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/quarantine-test-covid-rules-list-uk-b1760803.html
contains:
"Test-to-release applies to England only at present. It is thought likely that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are responsible for health issues such as quarantine, will follow suit."

The following organisations are key to achieving international agreements, (and much work has already been done by IATA):
IATA = International Air Travel Association
EASA = European Union Aviation Safety Agency
ECDC = European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control
ACI EUROPE = Airports Council International
Individual Governments involvement and agreement
FAA = Federal Aviation Authority.

source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1xxfd3QLV8&feature=youtu.be (the Geneme presentation last night @ 18:30 mins):
UK Govnt minimum Standards - starting 15.12.2020 (although these appear to be English standards presently):
Sensitivity >= 97%, Specificity >= 99%
Limit of Detection (LOD) <= 1,000 SARS-COV-2 copies per millilitre.
In addition, test devices must have been independently validated as having a sensitivity of at least 97% and a
specificity of at least 99% for at least 150 positive clinical samples and 250 negative clinical samples.

As I mentioned Test to Release not agreed between our 4 nations let alone beyond British borders.

PCR is expensive in comparison with LAMP, and holiday travel requires accurate tests to be as cheap as possible, else passenger numbers may be adversely affected.
I think we can guess the appetite for holiday air travel in future, subject to the threat from contracting Covid-19 being significantly reduced, much work to do internationally before travellers air travel experiences becomes much smoother.

risehall1 15:38 yesterday:

"I would expect Blackrock to have spoken with management before making the decision to invest a large sum."

Yes agreed, there are a number of issues for which they would have wanted answers to justify investing a large sum.

My four would be:
1 At what percentage share ownership would any interested investor be offered a seat on the board? (For future reference).

2 With respect to the following RNS quotes, I would like some specifics about these acquisition and/or partnership plans, - especially Versalab, Promate and IT-IS acquisition (all portals to a big improvement in turnover), and any other projects not in the public domain.

RNS - 17.09.2020 - Half Year Results, - three quotes follow:
"From this solid foundation, Novacyt has reviewed and accelerated its strategy for delivering long-term value to shareholders, which it expects will be supported by the continued strengthening of its financial position from operational cashflows over at least the next 12-18 months. We have identified specific high value opportunities for growth in the diagnostics market where Novacyt can leverage its innovative position for developing new in vitro diagnostic products. In addition, with new opportunities created by an increased demand for diagnostics and investment in the industry, we expect to further boost revenues and profitability through selective and accretive acquisitions. We believe the Company is well placed to deliver on our vision of becoming a market leader in respiratory and transplant clinical diagnostics."

"Selective product/technology and company acquisitions to generate additional revenues and profits to offset potential future reductions in COVID-19 revenues and enhance the Group's trajectory towards becoming a market leader in respiratory and transplant clinical diagnostics"

"The growth strategy aims to enable Novacyt to continue to grow the size of the core business but also to accelerate this through strategic acquisitions. The Directors believe the strong demand for COVID-19 diagnostic testing will continue through the next few months and well into next year, which will underpin the ongoing financial transformation of the Group and its trajectory towards becoming a market leader in respiratory and transplant clinical diagnostics."

3 What sales agreements are pending, or scheduled to be announced in January.

4 Who is the USA manufacturing / distributing partner.

Blackrock (or anybody else) would not hesitate to ask.
They might not get hard & fast answers, but knowing of GM's recent investment, they must have received enough information to be investing now.

Biden wants all Americans to have access to free testing, lets see if this brings an increase in US businness levels.
https://joebiden.com/covid19/
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