27 November 2024
Oxford Nanopore Technologies
plc
Oxford Nanopore and UK
Biobank to create world's largest epigenetic dataset targeting the
causes of cancer, dementia, complex disease
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The project will
utilise Oxford Nanopore's technology to map the epigenome using
50,000 UK Biobank participant samples, to unlock crucial insights
into disease mechanisms
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The initiative
builds upon a new strategic partnership between UK Biobank,
Genomics England and NHS England to drive biomedical research
forward and improve patient outcomes in the UK and
beyond
Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc
(LSE: ONT) ("Oxford Nanopore" or "the Group"), the company
delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing
technology, today announces a new collaboration with UK Biobank to
create the world's first comprehensive, large-scale epigenetic
dataset.
Oxford Nanopore technology will be
utilised to analyse the epigenome using 50,000 participant samples
to unlock crucial insights into disease mechanisms. This research
project is expected to run for up to 24 months, deploying 15-30x
coverage of epigenetic sequencing to characterise potential causes
of diseases including cancer, neurological diseases and other
common complex diseases.
Epigenetics is the study of how
external factors and lifestyle choices can modify an individual's
DNA. Epigenetic changes play a critical role in how genes are
expressed and influence risk in diseases such as cancer and
neurodegeneration. Oxford Nanopore's technology provides a
comprehensive view of up to 98% of the epigenetic methylation
markers, enabling richer insights than traditional sequencing
technologies, without the need for additional complex chemical
processes, such as bilsufite conversion.
This epigenetics programme follows
the previously
announced strategic partnership
with the UK Government, including the creation of the first
real-time, pathogen-agnostic biosurveillance system across as many
as 30 hospitals in NHS England-creating an early warning framework
to detect and respond to emerging pandemics and biological
threats.
These partnerships will not result
in a change to the Group's already stated 2024 and medium-term
financial guidance, with the incremental revenues supporting the
Group's previously stated revenue target of more than 30% constant
currency growth on a compound annual growth rate between FY24 and
FY27.
Gordon Sanghera, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Nanopore,
commented:
"This project represents a
significant leap forward in epigenetics research, an increasingly
important area of study related to causes of disease, disease
progression and response to treatment. Working with UK Biobank to
create the world's largest epigenetic dataset aligns with our
commitment to drive discovery in healthcare and genomics. By
capturing comprehensive methylation data, we aim to open new doors
for understanding disease, especially cancer and dementia, and
ultimately enable more personalised, effective treatments for
patients."
-ENDS-
For further information, please
contact:
Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc
Investors:
ir@nanoporetech.com
Media:
media@nanoporetech.com
Teneo (communications adviser to the
Company)
Tom Murray, Olivia Peters
+44 (0) 20 7353 4200
OxfordNanoporeTechnologies@teneo.com
About Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc:
Oxford Nanopore Technologies' goal
is to bring the widest benefits to society through enabling the
analysis of anything, by anyone, anywhere. The Group has developed
a new generation of nanopore-based sensing technology that is
currently used for real-time, high-performance, accessible, and
scalable analysis of DNA and RNA. The technology is used in more
than 125 countries, to understand the biology of humans, plants,
animals, bacteria, viruses and environments as well as to
understand diseases such as cancer. Oxford Nanopore's
technology also has the potential to provide broad, high impact,
rapid insights in a number of areas including healthcare, food and
agriculture.
For more information please
visit: www.nanoporetech.com
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains certain
forward-looking statements. For example, statements regarding
expected revenue growth and profit margins are forward-looking
statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "expect", "intend",
"anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "target", and similar
expressions of a future or forward-looking nature should also be
considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
address our expected future business and financial performance and
financial condition, and by definition address matters that are, to
different degrees, uncertain. Our results could be affected by
macroeconomic conditions, delays or challenges in manufacturing or
delivering of products to our customers, suspensions of large
projects and/or acceleration of large products or accelerated
adoption of pathogen surveillance or applied uses of our products.
These or other uncertainties may cause our actual future results to
be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking
statements.