Oxford-based company Genomics is launching its Health Insights test across the UK, which will be used to predict and prevent diseases.
With the launch, Genomics claims its test is the first product in the country to be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and carry the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark, combining genetic testing and clinical data to enable prediction and prevention.
Announcing the news at HLTH Europe in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 16 to 19 June, Genomics CEO Professor Sir Peter Donnelly said: 鈥淲e see this as a way to transform healthcare, to advance the prevention agenda and to enable doctors to get the right individuals into the right treatment, prevention and screening programmes at the right time, but critically also to give each of us as an individual the information we need to navigate our path and reduce our risks.鈥�
The test is based on polygenic risk scores (PRS), which use algorithms to evaluate DNA and provide a summary of a person鈥檚 susceptibility to a particular disease, allowing early intervention. The test only needs to be taken once and can be conducted at home with a saliva sample.
Genomics’ Health Insights test has already launched in the US, and the company is in discussions with the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean for a broader rollout.
The test is currently used by physicians in private healthcare facilities run by Bupa, Spire Healthcare and Well Life.
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By GlobalDataSpire Healthcare CEO Justin Ash said: 鈥淭his future partnership, and the innovative diagnostic technology developed by Genomics, will enable Spire to help people make informed choices about their health and lifestyle. We are excited about the application of this technology and its ability to further personalise the care we provide.鈥�
The test was also evaluated in a clinical trial conducted with the NHS to evaluate its ability to detect signs of cardiovascular disease. The full UK test will also look at a person’s susceptibility to developing type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer and breast cancer.
Although the new launch does not currently include NHS physicians, Donnelly hopes it could be adopted by public health systems in the future, especially given in the NHS 10-year plan.
Donnelly added: 鈥淭he NHS long-term plan comes out early next month, so we’ll watch that with interest, but I think there’s a massive possibility. It’s great that this is becoming available in the UK through a number of private providers, but we are all passionate about the NHS, and we would love to have it offered to NHS patients.鈥�
He added that the test could be used to
Donnelly commented: 鈥淎 big part of our business in genomics is helping pharma companies and biotechs on their drug discovery journey, and part of that is using genetics upstream to help them find better drug targets.
鈥淭here’s very strong data that if you have a drug target, which has support with human genetics, it’s twice as likely to get through clinical trials.鈥�
