EKF Diagnostics Launches New EKF Molecular Division

EKF Molecular to offer diagnostic technologies for cancer gene detection

 

Andrew Webb, CEO of the new EKF Molecular Division

Cardiff, UK – 2^nd April 2013 – EKF Diagnostics, worldwide manufacturer of point-of-care diagnostic tools, organ injury biomarkers and assays, has announced the launch of a new division to focus on molecular and companion diagnostics. EKF Molecular Diagnostics will develop technologies for cancer gene detection through its acquisition of UK based 360 Genomics.  

 

EKF Molecular has been set up 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. Companion diagnostics are used to distinguish between which patients are most likely to benefit from a particular therapy or those patients where the therapy will prove ineffective or even harmful.

 

EKF Molecular’s lead product, PointMan™, is a real-time PCR technology that provides highly sensitive detection for cancer mutations. PointMan is highly efficient in amplifying the target sequence of interest whilst suppressing amplification of the wild type.  The resulting sample is effectively enriched for the mutation thereby having the potential to offer industry leading sensitivity in a wide variety of sample types.  EKF Molecular expects to follow the spring launch of PointMan with several additional product launches during the second half of the year.

 

Xtract™ is the second product in EKF’s launch range. Xtract offers customers in the pharmaceutical, academic and diagnostic sectors a quicker, less expensive, cleaner and automatable platform for DNA extraction technology.

 

Julian Baines, Chief Executive Officer of EKF, said: “Companion diagnostics, is a situation where everyone wins: patients get better diagnosis which leads to better treatments and survival rates; doctors see increased patient safety and can make better informed decisions about treatments; healthcare providers and insurance companies will see better patient outcomes through reduced costs and pharmaceutical companies will be able to gain easier regulatory approval and a quicker time to market for their drugs.”

 

Andrew Webb has joined as Chief Executive Officer of EKF Molecular in a non-Board appointment. Andrew joins from QIAGEN where he established and led global market development for the high growth personalised healthcare business, launching industry leading products. Previously, Andrew was an executive director at DxS, the pioneering personalised healthcare company.

 

For more information please visit www.ekfdiagnostics.com

 

About 360 Genomics Limited

360 Genomics is a developer of diagnostic technologies to ensure timely and appropriate therapies for cancer patients. It has a pipeline of analytical tests for the detection of mutations in key cancer genes that are far more sensitive than existing chemistry platforms. Their flagship technology is PointMan™, which provides a reliable and highly sensitive determination of the presence or absence of a point mutation, which is a random mutation that occurs at one point in the DNA sequence. Such mutations may cause cancer however they are also valuable in guiding drug treatments for cancer.

 

About EKF Diagnostics

www.ekfdiagnostics.com

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc specialises in the development, production and worldwide distribution of point-of-care blood analysers for use in the detection and management of diabetes, anaemia, lactate and kidney related diseases.

 

EKF Diagnostics’ expertise covers the entire in vitro diagnostics chain, from fermentation and enzyme production, to the manufacture of liquid reagents, the design and building of world-class diagnostic devices and the distribution of rapid test kits for infectious diseases and pregnancy. The EKF range of analysers are a trusted brand in GP surgeries, pharmacies, blood banks, sports clinics, hospitals and laboratories for the measurement of glucose, lactate, haemoglobin, haematocrit and HbA1c.

 

EKF Diagnostics products are sold in more than 100 countries around the globe. EKF Diagnostics’ strengths lie in its multi-national research and manufacturing facilities, teams of experienced analysts and engineers in Germany, Ireland, USA and the UK, and a board led by some of world’s foremost authorities in medical diagnostics.