24 May 2022 07:00
Yourgene Health plc
("Yourgene" or the "Company")
Launch of the Accelerator Phase for Microdeletions Plugin
Expanding the clinical menu and capabilities of IONA® Nx NIPT Workflow offering
Manchester, UK - 24 May 2022: Yourgene (AIM: YGEN), a leading international molecular diagnostics group, announces the launch of Yourgene's Accelerator Phase for its Microdeletions1 Plugin (the "Plugin"), which expands on the clinical menu and capabilities of the class leading IONA® Nx NIPT Workflow offering.
This Accelerator Phase follows a successful pilot project with a key partner and IONA® Nx lab customer, LifeStrands Genomics, a leading clinical and translational genomics group based in Singapore. This Accelerator Phase allows the Company to collaborate with new laboratory partners or existing customers, and is anticipated to run until later this year.
The analysis Plugin has been designed for use with the IONA® Nx NIPT Workflow and is compatible within Yourgene's wider NIPT testing portfolio, broadening the Company's offering. The Plugin tests for microdeletions ≥3Mb in size, that are linked to a number of chromosomal syndromes including Di George, Prader Willi & Angelman, 1p36 deletion, Cri du Chat and Wolf Hirschhorn syndromes.
The IONA® Nx NIPT Workflow is an in vitro nucleic acid screening test that measures the likelihood that a pregnant woman is carrying a fetus with Trisomy 13, 18 or 21, as well as optional additional chromosomal abnormalities. It is a laboratory-based test that has been developed to run on the Illumina's NextSeq 550Dx instrument, a next generation sequencing platform.
Lyn Rees, CEO of Yourgene Health said: "We are proud of the Microdeletions Plugin as it builds on the advanced proprietary technology used to develop IONA® Nx and provides an expanded offering enabling a more competitive NIPT solution for our global laboratory customers. Yourgene is now one of a small group of NIPT providers who include microdeletions in the workflow. We are also pleased to launch this Accelerator Phase as we look to work with more laboratory partners in the NIPT space. This represents a new era in Yourgene's approach delivery of NIPT testing solutions, with a focus on 'Collaboration to Perform' reflecting our focus on personalised healthcare."
1 - A microdeletion is an abnormality that occurs when a piece of a chromosome is missing
Yourgene Health plc Lyn Rees, Chief Executive Officer | Tel: +44 (0)161 669 8122 investors@yourgene-health.com | |
Barry Hextall, Chief Financial Officer |
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Joanne Cross, Director of Marketing |
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Singer Capital Markets (Joint Corporate Broker) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000 | |
Aubrey Powell / Tom Salvesen / George Tzimas |
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Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Corporate Broker) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7710 7600 | |
Nicholas Moore / Matthew Blawat / Ben Maddison |
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Walbrook PR Ltd (Media and Investor Relations) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or yourgene@walbrookpr.com | |
Paul McManus / Lianne Applegarth | Mob: 07980 541 893 / Mob: 07584 391 303 | |
About Yourgene Health
Yourgene Health is an international molecular diagnostics group which develops and commercialises genetic products and services. The group works in partnership with global leaders in DNA technology to advance diagnostic science.
Yourgene primarily develops, manufactures, and commercialises simple and accurate molecular diagnostic solutions, for reproductive health, precision medicine and now infectious diseases. The Group's flagship products include non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) for Down Syndrome and other genetic disorders, Cystic Fibrosis screening tests, invasive rapid aneuploidy tests, and a recent extension into the oncology space with DPYD genotyping.
The launch of Yourgene Genomic Services has enabled Yourgene to offer a global laboratory service network equipped to be a full life-cycle partner for clinical, research and pharmaceutical organisations to support partners at the preclinical, clinical, and post-market stages to develop, manufacture, obtain regulatory approval and commercialise new products and services. In addition, Yourgene Genomic Services offers an NIPT and high throughput COVID testing service.
In August 2020, Yourgene acquired Coastal Genomics, Inc., a sample preparation technology company based in Vancouver, Canada, enabling the Company to extend its offering and IP portfolio in the DNA sample preparation sector. The acquisition increased Yourgene's geographical penetration into the US and Canada, supplementing existing coverage in the UK, Europe, MEA and Asia.
Yourgene Health is headquartered in Manchester, UK with offices in Taipei, Singapore, the US and Canada, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market under the ticker "YGEN". For more information visit www.yourgene-health.com and follow us on twitter @Yourgene_Health.