Novacyt’s SNPsig test for variants of concern included in NHS England Framework By Investing.com

By Samuel Indyk

Investing.com – AIM-listed Novacyt has announced that its SNPsig Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) portfolio has been included in the NHS England Framework for detecting variants of concern.

Novacyt (LON:NCYT) has been selected as one of the four companies by NHS England for testing all positive samples of Covid-19 from NHS and high throughput Lighthouse laboratories in England.

“We are very pleased to be included in NHS England’s VoC Framework, which allows our SNPsig range of products to be used at any NHS and Lighthouse laboratories, subject to local verification, as we continue to support diagnostic testing across the UK, and globally, through our extensive portfolio,” said Novacyt CEO Graham Mullis.

“We remain committed to developing new tests to match the rapid evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with our real-time bioinformatics surveillance programme and accelerated product development.

“Our SNPsig portfolio for detecting Variants of Interest and Variants of Concern now includes 12 individual assays to support scientists and clinicians in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.”

The latest update will be cheered by shareholders after the company announced last month it was not able to agree a contract extension with the UK Department of Health and Social Care for its exsig Covid-19 direct kits. Approximately 50% of the company’s full year revenue last year came from sales to the DHSC.

At 09:22BST, shares in Novacyt were trading higher by 8.6% at 439.69 pence per share.