Genedrive Regulatory News (GDR)

For release: 29 November

genedrive plc ("genedrive" or the "Company")

AbbVie sponsored REACH study for the use of Genedrive HCV assay in pharmacies 

genedrive plc (AIM: GDR), the near patient molecular diagnostics company, today announces that it will participate in an international multicentre trial ('REACH') to assess the impact of out-reach HCV diagnostics and therapy in a pharmacy setting versus conventional treatment pathways. The study, led by Prof. John Dillon, Professor of Hepatology and Gastroenterology at the University of Dundee and funded by AbbVie will cover up to 40 pharmacies across three sites in Scotland, Wales, and Australia.

The REACH study will focus on people undergoing opiate substitute therapy, a patient population traditionally resistant to travel, suggesting a 'Test and Treat' outreach-based diagnostic and treatment pathways could provide an effective solution to the HCV epidemic in this population. The study will determine if more HCV RNA positive people can be treated and cured, and will also examine whether the REACH pathway is more cost-effective than the conventional pathway, from the perspective of the NHS (UK) and Medicare (Australia). The study is anticipated to enroll approximately 140 patients over its two years.

David Budd, Chief Executive Officer of genedrive plc, said: "The advancement of molecular diagnostics to the point of need will provide faster treatment decisions to patients who have difficulty accessing traditional centralised services. We see the requirement for Test and Treat outside of centralised services as a common theme across our menu targets. We are very pleased to be working with Professor Dillon in further proving the cost effectiveness and clinical benefits of Genedrive® HCV-ID in another near patient setting."

Professor John Dillon of University of Dundee, comments: "I am delighted that this study is now starting. It is vital that if we are to eliminate HCV, we must find novel ways of using paradigm shifting technology like Genedrive HCV-ID in care pathways, to bring cure of HCV to the people who need it most."

- Ends -

For further details please contact:

genedrive plc

David Budd: CEO +44 (0)161 989 0245

Matthew Fowler: CFO

Peel Hunt LLP

James Steel +44 (0)207 418 8900

Oliver Jackson

Stanford Capital

Patrick Claridge +44 (0) 203 815 8880

Consilium Strategic Communications

Chris Gardner +44 (0)203 709 5700

Matthew Neal

Laura Thornton

genedrive@consilium-comms.com 

Notes to Editors

About genedrive plc

genedrive plc is a molecular diagnostics company developing and commercialising a low cost, rapid, versatile, simple to use and robust point of need molecular diagnostics platform for the diagnosis of infectious diseases and for use in patient stratification (genotyping), pathogen detection and other indications. The Genedrive® HCV ID test has received CE-IVD Certification and has been launched in Africa and Asia Pacific. genedrive has distribution agreements with subsidiaries of Sysmex Corporation for the distribution of the Genedrive® platform in the EMEA and SE Asia (ex-India), and with ARKRAY Healthcare pvt Ltd for the distribution of the Genedrive® HCV ID Kit and Genedrive® platform in India. The company also has tests in development for tuberculosis (mTB) and Antibiotic Induced Hearing Loss (AIHL).

Further details can be found at: www.genedriveplc.com and www.genedrive.com