Yourgene Health plc

("Yourgene" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Yourgene Genomic Services portfolio expansion

Cytox's genoSCORE^TM-LAB test can predict the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

Yourgene Genomic Services to run the array-based test at Citylabs 1.0 in Manchester

Manchester, UK - 11 March 2021: Yourgene (AIM: YGEN), the international molecular diagnostics group, announces that Yourgene Genomic Services ("YGS") has signed a contract with Cytox Ltd ("Cytox"), a collaborative partner, to run Cytox's genetic test, genoSCORE^TM-LAB*, which can predict the risk of an individual's cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease, in the Company's Citylabs 1.0 in Manchester.

Under the collaboration agreement, announced on 21 October 2020 and the successful conclusion of the beta testing study, YGS will run the array-based test with patient samples coming from the UK and Europe. Both blood and saliva samples will be sent to YGS to be analysed against an array of c.100,000 common genetic variations or biomarkers that are associated with, or protective against, the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The test will be able to detect the necessary genotypes to calculate individual polygenic risk scoring ("PRS") and generate an overall risk of cognitive decline due to the disease. A risk report will be produced, providing recommendations for positive steps for the patient to take to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

With modifiable factors accounting for more than 30% of the risk for Alzheimer's, the adoption of behaviours to monitor and treat factors such as hypertension, elevated cholesterol and smoking, is likely to bring benefit to the time of onset and rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. In Europe alone, there are an estimated 1.6 million new cases of dementia each year, of which 800,000 are Alzheimer's disease. 

Commenting, Lyn Rees, CEO of Yourgene, said: "We are pleased to update shareholders on this exciting development with our partner Cytox, highlighting the strengths and scope of our YGS capabilities. This is an additional test in our growing portfolio around precision health and provides another endorsement of the CRO core services offering YGS provides to our partners."

* genoSCORE-LAB only requires a blood or saliva sample. An easy-to-use mouth swab enables elderly and vulnerable patients to provide a sample from home if they are self-isolating due to COVID-19, or not wishing or easily able to attend a healthcare setting. As such, genoSCORE-LAB offers an easy to access alternative to existing invasive lumbar puncture tests, and expensive scanning procedures.

About Yourgene Health

Yourgene Health is an international molecular diagnostics group which develops and commercialises genetic products and services. The group works in partnership with global leaders in DNA technology to advance diagnostic science.

Yourgene primarily develops, manufactures, and commercialises simple and accurate molecular diagnostic solutions, for reproductive health, precision medicine and now infectious diseases. The Group's flagship products include non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) for Down's Syndrome and other genetic disorders, Cystic Fibrosis screening tests, invasive rapid aneuploidy tests, and a recent extension into the oncology space with DPYD genotyping.

The launch of Yourgene Genomic Services has enabled Yourgene to offer a global laboratory service network equipped to be a full life-cycle partner for clinical, research and pharmaceutical organisations to support partners at the preclinical, clinical, and post-market stages to develop, manufacture, obtain regulatory approval and commercialise new products and services. In addition, Yourgene Genomic Services offers an NIPT and high throughput COVID testing service.

In August 2020, Yourgene acquired Coastal Genomics, Inc., a sample preparation technology company based in Vancouver, Canada, enabling the Company to extend its offering and IP portfolio in the DNA sample preparation sector. The acquisition increased Yourgene's geographical penetration into the US and Canada, supplementing existing coverage in the UK, Europe, MEA and Asia.

Yourgene Health is headquartered in Manchester, UK with offices in Taipei, Singapore, the US and Canada, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market under the ticker "YGEN". For more information visit www.yourgene-health.com and follow us on twitter @Yourgene_Health.

About Cytox (www.cytoxgroup.com)

Without new drug therapies, the economic and healthcare cost burden of dementia - including Alzheimer's disease (AD) - will continue to rise, and now exceeds $1tn per year6. AD - a highly complex disease with risk factors based in genetics, lifestyle, age, and environment - has seen no new approved drug therapy since 2003; and clinical trial failure rates run at 99%7. Cytox's products genoSCORE-LAB and genoTOR use Polygenic Risk Scoring (PRS) to predict the risk of individuals developing AD, and to improve clinical trial outcomes through patient stratification and the genetic characterisation of the disease. Cytox's genoSCORE-LAB test has the potential to transform the diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease, unlocking a number of new approaches to treating and managing this critical disease. Cytox has ISO 13485 accreditation, for the provision of medical devices to meet customer and regulatory requirements.