APIS Assay Technologies, a private UK based company specialising in molecular diagnostics, has announced the extension of the highly successful DEVOTE grant award from the UK Government’s Innovation Accelerator programme led by Innovate UK.
APIS was originally awarded funding under the Development and Validation of Technology for Time Critical Genomic Technology (DEVOTE) programme and the extension gives APIS access to additional funds to further develop product concepts identified in the initial 2 year grant period.
APIS goal within the DEVOTE programme has been to design a broad, ethnically inclusive gene panel capable of detecting a range of pharmacogenetic targets. Working in close collaboration with academics, health economics experts, clinicians, and bioinformaticians, APIS has identified a number of genes where there is a market need for new pharmacogenetic tests. Of note under the DEVOTE grant APIS has launched the APIS DPYD qPCR Kit, a novel assay covering all the Tier 1 variants recommended by the American AMP PGx Working Group and allowing qPCR direct from EDTA whole blood, providing broader inclusivity and a simplified workflow versus competitor assays.
Using the additional funding from the DEVOTE extension APIS will further develop the DPYD qPCR Kit to gain UKCA and IVDR certification, including development of a cloud-based software solution, which will facilitate integration of assay results back into NHS laboratory systems. Additionally, APIS will continue to develop pharmacogenetic tests for other genes where an unmet need was identified during the original grant timeframe such as CYPD26 with each assay developed to be compatible with integration into a pharmacogenetic passport at a later date.
Ian Kavanagh, Chief Executive Officer of APIS, commented: "We are excited to continue working closely with our partners at the DEVOTE programme, to-date our interactions have been extremely valuable enabling us to define assay concepts together with the end user. We look forward to more commercial product launches later in the year, improving accessibility to genetic testing across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
