REG - GENinCode PLC - NHS (UCLH) Risk of Ovarian Cancer (ROCA) launch

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RNS Number : 7121A  GENinCode PLC  25 September 2025

 

 

25 September 2025

GENinCode Plc

("GENinCode" or the "Company")

 

NHS (UCLH) launches Risk of Ovarian Cancer (ROCA) surveillance service for
women at high risk

 

Oxford, UK. GENinCode Plc (AIM: GENI), the predictive genetics company focused
on the prevention of cardiovascular disease ("CVD") and risk of ovarian cancer
announces its collaboration with the North Central London (NCL) Cancer
Alliance and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH),
which becomes the first hospital trust in the UK to provide the Risk of
Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA) surveillance test service as part of its
Familial Cancer Clinic. The service, in line with new NICE guidance(1), is for
women who have a high risk of ovarian cancer due to inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2
gene alterations, who wish to defer preventative surgery.

 

Women who carry a cancer-causing variant in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene have a 44%
and 17% respectively in their lifetime risk of ovarian cancer ("OC") up to the
age of 80 years. Around one in every 400 people carries a cancer-causing
variant in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. They are advised to undergo surgical
removal of their fallopian tubes and ovaries to prevent OC. This remains the
safest option for this group of patients. NICE guidance also recommends that
surveillance should be offered to women who choose to defer surgery to be able
to have children and/or avoid early menopause. UCLH is the first trust in the
country to offer this surveillance on the NHS, outside of a trial setting.

 

The ROCA Test's proprietary algorithm calculates a woman's individual risk
based on several clinical factors. These include cumulative Cancer Antigen 125
(CA 125) blood test results, age, menopausal status and the presence of a
BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alteration. Having the ROCA blood test every four months
improves the chances of early detection of ovarian cancer (pre-stages III and
IV). Early detection improves treatment outcomes.

 

Three key prospective studies have been conducted using the ROCA Test with
women at high-risk of OC. The first UK study UKFOCSS was led by University
College London (UCL). Based on the reduction in late-stage ovarian cancer seen
in this trial, a 'real world' NHS implementation study, ALDO was initiated to
assess the feasibility of ROCA surveillance in the NHS and to conduct an
economic analysis. Based on these data, and a further US study, which together
report a 44% reduction in late-stage ovarian cancer detections (stage III and
IV), the NICE committee concluded that the ROCA Test is the preferred method
of surveillance for women deferring preventative surgery. Economic analysis
also indicates a cost saving to the NHS.

 

Professor Adam Rosenthal, Consultant Gynaecologist at UCLH said: "Having
pioneered the clinical trials in this area, we have reached a significant
milestone in being able to offer ROCA surveillance for high-risk women in our
NHS Familial Cancer Clinic. The service will give women with BRCA1 or BRCA2
gene alterations a surveillance option if they want to complete their families
or defer preventive surgery for other reasons."

 

Ali Malik, Managing Director of the NCL Cancer Alliance said: "After
supporting the ALDO study to prove the viability of the using the ROCA Test,
we are proud to help UCLH establish this service. For the first time it will
empower all eligible women across North Central London who are not ready to
undergo cancer prevention surgery. Surveillance means that their ovarian
cancer risk will be closely monitored and hence mitigate the risk of being
diagnosed at the most advanced stages. This step forward highlights the Cancer
Alliance's distinctive role in initiating, evaluating, and embedding
innovative approaches into clinical practice."

 

Matthew Walls, Chief Executive Officer, GENinCode Plc said: "We are delighted
to have worked closely with UCLH and the North Central London Cancer Alliance
to deliver this first NHS ROCA surveillance service for women at high-risk of
ovarian cancer. It has required a significant effort from the cross-functional
teams involved and we are grateful for their determination and focus. We look
forward to extending the ROCA Test implementation to other NHS trusts in due
course."

 

(1.) NICE Guidance NG241 Ovarian cancer: identifying and managing familial and
genetic risk https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng241
(https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng241)

 

 

For more information visit www.genincode.com (http://www.genincode.com)

 

Enquiries:

 

 GENinCode Plc                               www.genincode.com (http://www.genincode.com) or via Walbrook PR
 Matthew Walls, CEO

 Cavendish Capital Markets Limited           Tel: +44 (0)20 7397 8900
 Giles Balleny/ Trisyia Jamaludin (Corporate Finance)
 Nigel Birks (Life Sciences Specialist Sales)
 Harriet Ward (Corporate Broking)

 Walbrook PR Limited                         Tel: 020 7933 8780 or genincode@walbrookpr.com

                                           (mailto:genincode@walbrookpr.com)
 Anna Dunphy / Paul McManus / Marcus Ulker

 

 

About GENinCode:

GENinCode Plc is a UK based company specialising in genetic risk assessment of
cardiovascular disease and ovarian cancer. Cardiovascular disease is the
leading cause of death and disability worldwide. GENinCode operates business
units in the UK, Europe through GENinCode S.L.U., and in the United States
through GENinCode U.S. Inc. GENinCode predictive technology provides patients
and physicians with globally leading preventive care and treatment strategies.
GENinCode invitro-diagnostic molecular tests combine clinical algorithms and
AI bioinformatics to advance patient risk assessment to prevent the onset of
cardiovascular disease and ovarian cancer. For more information,
visit www.genincode.com
(https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.genincode.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ccatherine.nestor%40nhs.net%7C7e6421d95ddd4acd150a08ddd9924a32%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638905944526653045%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DIEFicomE5hgaC49eIGIIrV%2BeGgOMEr0XnmX%2FdnjFJE%3D&reserved=0)
 and for the ROCA Test, www.therocatest.co.uk
(https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.therocatest.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ccatherine.nestor%40nhs.net%7C7e6421d95ddd4acd150a08ddd9924a32%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638905944526681319%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=C%2FL5p8VYdZu0ZsllBcwWNKaLE4QcM8VDD1vmlhlNkGA%3D&reserved=0)
 

 

Notes to editors

 

1.         Referral process

 

The UCLH Familial Cancer Clinic accepts referrals for patients with proven
inherited gene alterations living in North Central London, via regional
Clinical Genetics Services or from other sources e.g. breast teams and primary
care. Breast and ovarian cancer patients are now routinely tested for
inherited BRCA variants. If a BRCA variant is identified then direct (blood)
relatives will be invited for a call with a genetics counsellor to discuss
genetic testing. GPs can refer patients to the regional genetics service for
testing according to the criteria in NICE Guideline 241.

2.         UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust) provides first-class acute and specialist services in six hospitals in
Central London. UCLH is committed to education and research and forms part of
UCLPartners which in March 2009 was officially designated as one of the UK's
first academic health science centres by the Department of Health. UCLH works
closely with UCL, translating research into treatments for patients. For more
information visit www.uclh.nhs.uk
(https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uclh.nhs.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ccatherine.nestor%40nhs.net%7C3aa197e62ea84eab44cd08ddb952f0ac%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638870488649570818%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uWaW3oVzG4IJ9tWmtKCE2i4fJ%2FbX10TinmiekqpAwbc%3D&reserved=0)
. Facebook (UCLHNHS), X/Twitter (@uclh), Youtube (UCLHvideo) and instagram
(@uclh).

3.         NHS North Central London Cancer Alliance works together
with partners to improve the lives of people affected by cancer across North
Central London. It does this through clinical and technological innovation, a
supported and knowledgeable workforce, and clear action to tackle health
inequalities. www.nclcanceralliance.nhs.uk
(http://www.nclcanceralliance.nhs.uk/)

 

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