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).

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." 

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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.