Premaitha Health reaches agreement with new East Asian lab partner

Molecular diagnostics group Premaitha Health has signed an agreement with a new laboratory partner, it announced on Thursday, to offer a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) screening solution in a new East Asian territory.

The AIM-traded firm said the unnamed partner is a private reference laboratory, which would provide the NIPT screening solution to its network of hospitals and clinics in the region.

It said the installation of the laboratory was set to be completed in the first half of 2018, with the partner set to be operating in an already-established NIPT market with “attractive” market dynamics and growth prospects.

Premaitha explained that the NIPT solution being implemented in the territory utilised the sequencing and bioinformatics expertise of its ‘Yourgene’ subsidiary, and the clinical understanding, IVD and quality standards of Premaitha.

That would enable pregnant women and their families to access “fast, safe and reliable” tests, and reduce the need for invasive tests with their associated risks, stress and anxiety.

“We are delighted to announce a further new international territory for Premaitha, which provides entry into another high growth market for NIPT,” said Premaitha CEO Dr Stephen Little.

“Despite Tuesday's judgment, the impact of which is limited to the UK, we continue to expand Premaitha's footprint through our geographic diversification strategy into territories unaffected by Illumina's patents.”

Little was referring to a judgment from the Patents Court division of the High Court, which on Tuesday found in favour of Illumina in its patent infringement case against Premaitha Health, The Doctors Laboratory, TDL Genetics and Ariosa Diagnostics in relation to non-invasive prenatal testing technology.