13 Jan 2021 07:00
Yourgene Health plc
("Yourgene" or the "Group" or the "Company")
DPYD screening recommended in Belgium
Manchester, UK - 13 January 2021: Yourgene (AIM: YGEN), the international molecular diagnostics group, welcomes the research article published on 11 January 2021, in Acta Clinica Belgica, titled: 'Joint Belgian recommendation on screening for DPD-deficiency in patients treated with 5-FU, capecitabine (and tegafur).'
The research article endorses screening for Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency which can cause severe and sometimes lethal side effects in patients being treated with chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), commonly used in the treatment of colon, oesophageal, stomach, pancreatic, breast and cervical cancers.
Yourgene already has an existing strong customer base and supplies its Elucigene DPYD test, which identifies cancer patients with DPD deficiency, directly into Belgium. The Elucigene DPYD assay is being used by one of the contributing institutes, the University Hospital St Luc/ UCLouvain, Woluwe, Belgium, where the lead author of the research publication is based. This follows on from the positive news that DPYD screening has been recommended in Germany, Wales and most recently by NHS England. The screening enables clinicians and their patients to avoid the risk of increased toxicity from a commonly-used chemotherapy treatment, and the use of lower dose or alternate treatment where indicated. With the clinical value of DPYD screening being more widely recognised, the opportunity for significant market growth for Yourgene is increasing.
Lyn Rees, CEO of Yourgene, commented: "The clinical value of DPYD screening is being increasingly recognised globally through such recommendations and we are in a strong position with our Elucigene DPYD test to support and expand into these markets. We are proud to already have an existing customer base in Belgium which we will continue to supply. We are pleased to see the wider recognition of the benefits of DPYD testing and the associated growth in market potential for our Elucigene DPYD test."
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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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's 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.