EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

("EKF" or "the Company")

First PointMan™ DNA enrichment products launched

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (AIM: EKF), the AIM listed point-of-care diagnostics business, announces the launch of the first PointMan™ DNA enrichment products, following the acquisition of 360 Genomics Limitedand the establishment of EKF Molecular Diagnostics in March 2013, ahead of plan.

The three PointMan™ kits being launched for the Research Use Only market, with planned diagnostic registration in Europe in 2014, are:

The launch of these three kits, which are the first in a line of further expected PointMan™ product launches, comes ahead of schedule and represents step one in our operational development plan for the newly established EKF Molecular Diagnostics. EKF Molecular was established to offer innovative products with the potential to change current DNA extraction and detection practices allowing EKF to address the fast growing companion diagnostics market.

About PointMan™

PointMan™ provides a reliable and highly sensitive determination of the presence or absence of a mutation in the DNA sequence.  Mutations are associated with diseases such as cancer and importantly the patient's response to treatment, known as personalised healthcare.

PointMan™ works by targeting the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) towards the mutant sequence whilst suppressing the amplification of the non-mutated (wild type) sequence and this means that these enriched samples contain artificially high levels of mutated DNA, significantly enhancing detection. This drives the sensitivity of the PointMan™ technology far beyond existing PCR technology (PointMan™ can detect 1 mutant gene in 100,000 normal gene copies against the nearest technology that detects 1 in 100).

The efficiency of PointMan™ therefore maximises the use of smaller biopsy samples as well as allowing multiplexing of mutations in a single test rather than many individual tests as current competing technologies do. 

Julian Baines, CEO of EKF commented: "We are delighted to have launched these products ahead of our planned schedule. This launch will see our newly established division contributing already towards the Group's operations and activities, and represents our first visible move into the fast growing companion diagnostics market. I look forward to providing updates on these products as we steer them towards commercialisation, and also to informing shareholders of the launch of future expected products from the PointMan™ pipeline over the coming months."

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About EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc was formed in July 2010 following the acquisition of EKF-diagnostic GmbH for €14.32m and refocused its strategy to one of building a substantial point of care diagnostics business. As part of this strategy, the Group has integrated three further acquisitions, Quotient Diagnostics Limited (acquired in October 2010 for a maximum of £5.41m), Argutus Medical Limited (acquired in December 2010 for £2.18m) and Stanbio Laboratory L.P. (acquired in June 2011 for a maximum of US$25.5m).

The Company, with its head office in Cardiff and operations in London, Germany, Poland, Russia, Ireland and the US, is a leading diagnostics business, focused on the development, production and distribution of chemical reagents and analysers for the testing of Glucose, Lactate, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit and HbA1c.

In May 2011 EKF entered into a distribution agreement with Alere Inc ("Alere"), a global diagnostics company, under which Alere was appointed the exclusive distributor of EKF's CLIA waived Hemo Control device and cuvettes in the US, Canada and United Kingdom. The device is distributed in the US under the name HemoPoint H2. 

For more information please visit the website: www.ekfdiagnostics.com