EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
("EKF" or "the Company")
New PointMan™ DNA enrichment products launched
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (AIM: EKF), the AIM listed point-of-care diagnostics business, announces that EKF Molecular Diagnostics has launched four new PointMan™ DNA enrichment products for the Research Use Only market, with planned diagnostic registration in Europe in 2014. The new kits are listed below:
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PointMan™ KRAS codons* 12/13/61 DNA Enrichment Kit |
the KRAS gene has proven utility in the treatment of colorectal cancer and the addition of codon 61 may confirm broader genetic variation within the KRAS gene.
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PointMan™ EGFR DNA Enrichment Kit |
the kit includes the addition of the sensitising mutations in exons 19 and 21 which have proven utility for EGFR targeted therapies in non-small cell lung cancer. |
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PointMan™ NRAS DNA Enrichment Kit |
mutations in the NRAS gene are found in approximately 13-25% of all malignant melanomas, occurring frequently in codons 12, 13, and 61.
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PointMan™ JAK2 DNA Enrichment Kit |
mutations in the JAK2 gene have been implicated in polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myelofibrosis as well as other myeloproliferative disorders. |
* Definition of a codon: 'A sequence of three nucleotides which together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule.'
The new launches follow on from the introduction of the first three PointMan™ DNA enrichment products in May 2013, namely BRAF, KRAS and EGFR T790M DNA enrichment kits. The extension of EKF Molecular Diagnostic's portfolio of DNA enrichment kits further enhances the Company's ability to change current DNA extraction and detection practices and address the fast growing companion diagnostics market.
Julian Baines, CEO of EKF commented: "I'm very pleased to announce the launch of EKF Molecular's latest research kits, adding to our growing portfolio of kits for use in finding companion diagnostics for cancer treatments. I look forward to providing further updates as we steer this business towards commercialisation and launch further research kits that challenge the lack of sensitivity in current methodologies."
Enquiries:
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EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc |
Tel: 029 2071 0570 |
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David Evans, Executive Chairman |
Mob: 07740 084452 |
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Julian Baines, CEO |
Mob: 07788 420 859 |
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Canaccord Genuity Limited |
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Lucy Tilley / Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / Julian Feneley |
Tel: 020 7523 8000 |
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Walbrook PR Limited |
Tel: 020 7933 8780 |
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Paul McManus |
Mob: 07980 541 893 or paul.mcmanus@walbrookpr.com |
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Paul Cornelius |
Mob: 07866 384 707 or paul.cornelius@walbrookpr.com |
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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
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.