The total value of the orders is in excess of £100,000 and the NICUs of the five hospitals, The Royal Oldham Hospital, Stepping Hill Hospital, Royal Bolton Hospital, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and Tameside General Hospital admit approximately 1,900 babies per year. These additional sites more than double the number of NICUs in the UK using the test in routine practice.
The Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID Kit is a simple non-invasive test that can identify babies in NICU with an MT-RNR1 genetic variant rapidly in approximately 26 minutes who may be at high risk of hearing loss if given aminoglycoside antibiotics, enabling rapid clinical decisions on antibiotic prescribing in neonatal emergency care, and the avoidance of administration of aminoglycosides in those individuals in which the genetic variant is present.
The Genedrive® MT-RNR1 test received conditional recommendation from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (“NICE”) in March 2023, enabling its use in the NHS whilst further evidence is generated. Plans for generating the required further evidence are underway, with the goal of enabling transition from conditional to full recommendation by NICE, which in turn is expected to facilitate funding for the test at a national level.
James Cheek, CEO of genedrive plc, said: “I am delighted to see the positive effects of our direct to customer commercialisation strategy in the UK, with further NHS engagement and uptake for bringing this vital test which has the potential to avoid profound, irreversible hearing loss in babies in neonatal care units into day-to-day use in neonatal emergency care. Our expectation is that more NHS trusts will adopt this simple to use point of care genetic test in the coming months and we continue to grow our opportunities overseas.”
Ajit Mahaveer, Clinical Lead for the Northwest Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (NWNODN), said: “The implementation of the Genedrive MT-RNR1 test across all neonatal sites in Greater Manchester represents a significant advancement in preventing hearing loss in infants and enabling rapid genetic testing at the bedside”.
Jonathan Massey, Programme Director for Academia at Health Innovation Manchester said: “Health Innovation Manchester is pleased to continue to work with genedrive and our academic and health partners to ensure the sustained deployment of this innovative test across the whole of Greater Manchester”.
The Company also confirms that the following Directors have completed their applications to participate via the REX Retail Offer or the Open Offer in the Fundraising that was announced on 9 May 2024. The £ sterling amount of the applications are as follows: Russ Shaw £25,500, Gino Miele £15,000, Ian Gilham £10,000 and Chris Yates £3,000. As previously announced, on 9 May 2024 James Cheek and Tom Lindsay both acquired Firm Placing Shares to the value of c.£10,000.
