COVID-19 assay launched

RNS Number : 4466R

Yourgene Health PLC

30 June 2020

 

Yourgene Health plc

("Yourgene" or the "Company")

COVID-19 assay launched

Launch of Clarigene™ SARS-CoV-2 test ('RUO')

Manchester, UK - 30 June 2020:  Yourgene (AIM: YGEN), a leading international molecular diagnostics group, announces the launch of its Clarigene™ SARS-CoV-2 test for research use only ('RUO').

The Clarigene™ SARS-CoV-2 test is a molecular PCR (polymerase chain reaction) based COVID-19 assay, which detects the SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA* to confirm the presence of the virus.  The test is used to detect the presence of the virus and whether individuals are currently infected, not the presence of antibodies. The assay is simple but highly effective with one sample, the viral target and the internal control all in the same PCR well**.

The test kit contains a mastermix, primer and probe sets and is suitable for RNA extracted from a nasopharyngeal swab. The assay has a rapid turnaround time of 1hr 20min following RNA extraction and set up. The competitive assay has been developed to reduce the chance of false negative results being generated, which has been an industry wide problem¹. Yourgene's internal control primers are designed to only detect RNA and not amplify patient DNA, which leads to false negatives. The assays have been benchmarked against data from an independent laboratory assessment body.  Preliminary data has shown the test to have 100% specificity.

The Clarigene™ SARS-CoV-2 test will be made available to Yourgene's customers as evaluation kits, and as previously announced on 26 May 2020, a CE marked in vitro diagnostic kit ('CE IVD'), for diagnostic use, is still on track for release at the end of July 2020. The CE-IVD version will have two viral targets and assay controls, making it more desirable from the reimbursement perspective across several European regions.

Yourgene already has over 300 laboratory customers and a growing global network of distribution channels in place through which to drive sales of the Clarigene™ SARS-CoV-2 test and CE IVD kits, once approved, targeting a pipeline of opportunities . In addition, the test will be run in Yourgene's service laboratory in Manchester.

Lyn Rees, CEO of Yourgene, commented: "We are proud to continue our support towards the global COVID-19 effort with the launch of the Clarigene™ SARS-CoV-2 Test (RUO) and I would like to congratulate the Yourgene team who have worked extremely hard to get us to this point . The addition of the Clarigene infectious disease product portfolio will strengthen our offering through our commercial channels and expand and diversify our product range. We remain on track to receive CE mark for the test and I look forward to updating the market at the end of July. "

1.  doi:   https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.13.094839

* Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. RNA and DNA are nucleic acids, but RNA is needed to detect the COVID-19 virus.

**A plate containing several wells that goes into a PCR instrument for the assay to work. Each well contains test and sample reagent.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

Yourgene Health plc Lyn Rees, Chief Executive Officer	Tel: [phone] [e-mail]
Barry Hextall, Chief Financial Officer
Joanne Cross, Director of Marketing
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (NOMAD)	Tel: [phone]
Liam Murray / James Caithie / Ludovico Lazzaretti
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Sole Corporate Broker)		Tel: [phone]
Nicholas Moore / Matthew Blawat / Ben Maddison
Walbrook PR Ltd (Media and Investor Relations)	Tel: [phone] or [e-mail]
Paul McManus / Lianne Cawthorne	Mob: [phone] / Mob: [phone]

About Yourgene Health plc

Yourgene 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 develops and commercialises simple and accurate molecular diagnostic solutions, primarily for reproductive health. The Group's products include non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) for Down's Syndrome and other genetic disorders, Cystic Fibrosis screening tests, invasive rapid aneuploidy tests, male infertility tests and genetic disease tests. Yourgene's commercial footprint is already established in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Our product development, research service and commercial capabilities extend across the lifecycle of genetic test development including regulatory submissions. Through our technical expertise and partnerships, Yourgene is also extending its genetic testing offering into oncology.

Yourgene is headquartered in Manchester, UK with offices in Taipei and Singapore, 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry; its beliefs; and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions security holders and prospective security holders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.

 

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