REG - Genedrive PLC - Scotland’s Public Health Minister visit

GenedriveAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 1622W  Genedrive PLC  21 August 2025

genedrive plc

("genedrive" or the "Company")

 

Scotland's Public Health Minister visits NHSGGC ahead of the Genedrive®
MT-RNR1 ID Kit national rollout launch

 

genedrive plc (AIM: GDR), the point of care pharmacogenetic testing company,
is pleased to note that the Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID Kit, which reduces the risk
of deafness in newborn babies is being introduced by NHS Greater Glasgow and
Clyde ("NHSGGC") in September 2025 as part of the national rollout funded by
the Scottish Government (Genetic test to prevent hearing loss in newborns to
begin national rollout in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde  - NHSGGC
(https://www.nhsggc.scot/genetic-test-to-prevent-hearing-loss-in-newborns-to-begin-national-rollout-in-nhs-greater-glasgow-and-clyde/)
).

 

The Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID Kit will start being used for babies requiring
antibiotic treatment for infections within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at
the Royal Hospital for Children ("RHC") in Glasgow next month, with the Royal
Alexandra Hospital and Princess Royal Maternity Hospital to follow soon
after.

 

It will be rolled out to all territorial health boards with neonatal units
over the next 18 months.  The initiative follows an assessment by the Chief
Scientist Office funded Accelerated National Innovation Adoption ("ANIA")
pathway, led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery ("CfSD"), and a Programme
for Government commitment from the Scottish Government to provide £0.8m to
support national adoption.

 

It follows the ongoing UK-wide PALOH (Pharmacogenetics to Avoid Loss of
Hearing) programme and assessment by the Scottish Health Technologies Group.

 

Scotland's Public Health Minister Jenni Minto visited the RHC neonatal unit to
meet clinicians and representatives from the West of Scotland Innovation Hub
("WoSIH"), who have played a leading role in bringing the innovation to
Scotland.  Ms Minto also discussed the planned national rollout with members
of the CfSD and once fully implemented, it is anticipated that more than 3,000
newborn babies would be tested during the first year.

 

Dr Gino Miele, CEO of genedrive plc, said: "We are proud that NHS Scotland has
sought to implement our interventional rapid genetic test nationally, ensuring
over time that it is available to neonates across Scotland who might otherwise
be at risk of hearing loss. We look forward to working closely with CfSD, ANIA
and individual sites to implement this into standard clinical practice
throughout Scotland".

 

Dr Helen McDevitt, Consultant Neonatologist with NHSGGC and clinical lead for
the PALOH-UK study at the RHC, said: "The introduction of this point-of-care
genetic testing for newborn babies requiring antibiotic treatment for
bacterial infection is a landmark moment for neonatal care in Scotland.  By
introducing this test, we are taking a vital step in preventing avoidable
hearing loss in newborns and ensuring safer, more personalised treatment.  We
were pleased to meet Public Health Minister Jenni Minto today to discuss the
rollout of this test, which will have a hugely positive impact on the lives of
many people. Through our adoption of this test, NHSGGC will also be able to
provide real-work data to support NICE in order to help inform its national
guidance."

 

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: "I am delighted that the Scottish
Government is funding the rollout of this test across all of Scotland's
neonatal units over the next 18 months.  I want to thank the hardworking
staff at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Glasgow who I met yesterday and
who showed me a demonstration of the genetic test for newborn babies.  NHS
reform in Scotland will be accelerated by scientific and technological
innovation, and this Government is committed to supporting Scotland's
excellent research base and adopting novel, evidence-proven approaches to
drive further improvements for patients."

 

Katie Cuthbertson, National Associate Director of the Centre for Sustainable
Delivery, said: "We are delighted to support the rapid adoption of this
pioneering genetic test through the ANIA pathway.  This test will help
prevent avoidable hearing loss and improved outcomes for families across
Scotland, and represents a major step forward in delivering safer, more
personalised care for newborns.  We are excited to continue to collaborate
with Boards and clinicians across NHS Scotland, to ensure we remain at the
forefront of innovative, precision medicine and sustainable healthcare
transformation."

 

 

For further details please contact:

 

 genedrive plc                                     +44 (0)161 989 0245
 Gino Miele: CEO / Russ Shaw: CFO

 Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser and Broker)      +44 (0)20 7418 8900
 James Steel

 Walbrook PR Ltd (Media & Investor Relations)      +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or genedrive@walbrookpr.com
                                                   (mailto:genedrive@walbrookpr.com)
 Anna Dunphy                                       +44 (0)7876 741 001

 

 

About genedrive plc (http://www.genedriveplc.com).

genedrive plc is a pharmacogenetic testing company developing and
commercialising a low cost, rapid, versatile and simple to use point of need
pharmacogenetic platform for the diagnosis of genetic variants. This helps
clinicians to quickly access key genetic information that will aid them make
the right choices over the right medicine or dosage to use for an effective
treatment, particularly important in time-critical emergency care healthcare
paradigms. Based in the UK, the Company is at the forefront of Point of Care
pharmacogenetic testing in emergency healthcare. Pharmacogenetics informs on
how your individual genetics impact a medicines ability to work for you.
Therefore, by using pharmacogenetics, medicine choices can be personalised,
made safer and more effective. The Company has launched its two flagship
products, the Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID Kit and the Genedrive® CYP2C19 ID Kit,
both developed and validated in collaboration with NHS partners and deployed
on its point of care thermocycler platform. Both tests are single-use
disposable cartridges which are ambient temperature stable, circumventing the
requirement for cold chain logistics. The Directors believe the Genedrive®
MT-RNR1 ID Kit is a worlds-first and allows clinicians to make a decision on
antibiotic use in neonatal intensive care units within 26 minutes, ensuring
vital care is delivered, avoiding adverse effects potentially otherwise
encountered and with no negative impact on the patient care pathway. Its
CYP2C19 ID Kit which has no comparably positioned competitor currently allows
clinicians to make a decision on the use of Clopidogrel in stroke patients in
70 minutes, ensuring that patients who are unlikely to benefit from or suffer
adverse effects from Clopidogrel receive an alternative antiplatelet
therapeutic in a timely manner, ultimately improving outcomes. Both tests have
undergone review by the National Institute for Health and Care Clinical
Excellence ("NICE") and have been recommended for use in the UK NHS. The
Company has a clear commercial strategy focused on accelerating growth through
maximising in-market sales, geographic and portfolio expansion and strategic
M&A, and operates out of its facilities in Manchester.

 

 

 

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