RNS Number : 1522A
EKF Diagnostics Holdings PLC
27 January 2011
 



27 January 2011

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

("EKF" or "the Company")

 

Quotient Diagnostics obtains approval for Quo-Test in China

 

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (AIM: EKF), the AIM listed point-of-care diagnostics business,  announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Quotient Diagnostics Limited ("Quotient"), has received approval from China's Safety for Food and Drugs Administration ("SFDA") for its Quo-Test A1C test. With this approval, Quotient will be able to start the promotion, distribution and sale of the Quo-Test A1c Reagent kit on its proprietary Quo-Test platform in China.

 

It is expected that Quotient, through its agreement with Shanghai Upper Biotech ("SUB"), will receive the license within the next 2 weeks allowing the distribution of Quotient's products in China.

 

Diabetes patients need to regularly test for their level of A1c, also known as glycated haemoglobin, as it provides health professionals with an indication of the effectiveness of the treatment provided.

 

According to a recent epidemiologic study by  the International Diabetes Federation, China has become the centre of the diabetes epidemic, which at 92.4 million makes it the country with the largest diabetic population in the world; this figure is expected to reach half a billion by 2030. It is thought that 60 per cent. of diabetics remain undiagnosed due to poor public awareness. China's health authorities are committed to health reforms in order to increase the offer of primary care.

 

Julian Baines, CEO of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc, said:

"Regular HbA1c monitoring can help to minimise the long term complications of diabetes and Quotient is committed to making testing more widely available and more affordable. It has been shown that immediate feedback of A1c results significantly improves patients' glycaemic control at 6 and 12 months. We are pleased the SFDA has approved the Quo-Test so that we will now be able to offer our A1c product to one of the largest diabetic populations in the world. Our collaboration with Shanghai Upper Biotech will ensure a complete and comprehensive coverage of the territory. SUB has an excellent track record of providing top level service and customer support."

 

Enquiries:

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc     


Julian Baines, CEO                                        

Mob: 07788 420 859

Paul Foulger, FD                                            

Tel: 020 7823 1733



Zeus Capital (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)           

Tel: 0161 831 1512

Ross Andrews


Tom Rowley




Matrix Corporate Capital LLP (Joint Broker)

Tel: 020 3206 7000

Robert Naylor


Stephen Waterman




Walbrook PR                                                  

Tel: 020 7933 8780

Paul McManus                                               

Mob: 07980 541 893


paul.mcmanus@walbrookpr.com

 

Notes to the Editor:

 

1.    HbA1C is a specific type of glycated haemoglobin, formed when glucose present in the blood 'sticks' to the 
haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body. The higher the blood glucose levels have been in the previous few weeks, the greater will be the amount of glycated haemoglobin found in the blood. Whereas a blood glucose test can only measure what the blood glucose level is at the moment the test is done, an HbA1c test provides a way of assessing the average blood glucose level over the previous 6 to 8 weeks.

 

2.    Globally recognised as the gold standard indicator of metabolic control of blood glucose, regular HbA1c 
monitoring can help to minimise the long-term complications of diabetes, improving health outcomes and reducing the escalating financial burden of the disease.

 

 

 


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
READQLFLFFFLBBV
admin SFDA approval for Quo-Test in China 4002886 A Thu, 01/27/2011 - 07:00 Company Announcement - General EKF