Yourgene awarded PHE diagnostics framework agreement

Molecular diagnostics provider Yourgene has been awarded a framework agreement under Public Health England's (PHE) National Microbiology Framework for diagnostic goods and services, it announced on Monday.

The AIM-traded firm said the award was for the four-lot tender for its ‘Clarigene’ SARS-CoV-2 assay, and its Manchester-based Covid-19 testing service.

It said the framework was appointing suppliers to framework agreements for four lots.

Lot 1 was the first to be announced, and covered the supply of in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and associated services, including for the company's Clarigene SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay and the associated clinical laboratory testing services delivered through Yourgene Genomic Services.

The term of the framework agreement for the lot, and for each subsequent lot, if awarded, would be for an initial two years with options to extend by up to a further two years.

Yourgene said Lot 1 is a £3bn tender, to be satisfied by multiple successful bidders.

Under the National Microbiology Framework, participating public health authorities across the UK could use call-off contracts to procure goods and testing services from Yourgene under such lots as it is in receipt of a framework agreement.

There was no guarantee, however, that such contracts would be forthcoming, nor as to the quantum of any potential call-off contracts.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with PHE and its sister organisations across the NHS, DHSC and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to offer our Clarigene SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay, and our accredited lab testing services, to contain Covid-19 in the near-term and to participate in putting in place a robust testing infrastructure post-pandemic,” said chief executive officer Lyn Rees.

“Yourgene considers that the successful framework award, for which there was a competitive tender process, lends significant credibility to the Clarigene product and to the company's Covid testing services.

“More broadly, we expect the award to support business development outside the scope of this agreement with a growing network of commercial partners, addressing privately funded testing in healthcare and workplace settings.”

At 1622 BST, shares in Yougene Health were up 7.33% at 16.10p.