Manchester NHS Trust transitions MT-RNR1 to BAU

Genedrive PLC

18 June 2026

 

18 June 2026

genedrive plc

("genedrive" or the "Company")

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust transitions genedrive's MT-RNR1 test to Business as Usual clinical service

genedrive plc (AIM: GDR), the point of care pharmacogenetic testing company, is pleased to announce that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust ("MFT") hospitals has transitioned the Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID kit for the prevention of Antibiotic Induced Hearing Loss in neonates to Business as Usual ("BAU") routine clinical service.

MFT hospitals (St. Mary's, North Manchester and Wythenshawe) together represent approximately 1,800 Neonatal Intensive Care Units ("NICU") admissions annually and have been three of the eight Greater Manchester sites participating in the 14-site nationwide PALOH-UK programme, which aims to address National Institute for Clinical Care and Excellence ("NICE") Real World Evidence generation requirements. To date, more than 30 critically ill babies in Greater Manchester NICUs have been identified with the MT-RNR1 variant, enabling alternative antibiotic prescription and reducing the risk of aminoglycoside-induced lifelong hearing loss. At least one baby carrying the MT-RNR1 variant has been identified at each NICU site in Greater Manchester, reinforcing the case for routine testing across neonatal services.

Dr Ajit Mahaveer, Consultant Neonatologist, Saint Mary's Hospital, Manchester said: "The Genedrive assay has become an integral part of our neonatal practice, enabling rapid identification of babies at risk of aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss. Its continued use supports safer, more personalised care and allows timely treatment decisions without delaying antibiotic administration."

Dr Gino Miele, CEO of genedrive plc, said: "The transition to BAU routine clinical service following PALOH-UK at MFT is a key milestone in driving wider scale adoption of our MT-RNR1 genetic test in the UK. As a Manchester-based company working closely with NHS partners, we are particularly proud that MFT has been central to the development and progression of rapid pharmacogenetic testing in NICUs. Since the introduction of the test, more than 30 babies in Greater Manchester alone have been identified as carrying the MT-RNR1 variant and would otherwise have been at risk of lifelong hearing loss. We are delighted that babies and families served by MFT will continue to benefit from the routine availability of our test.

"We are in active discussions with other hospitals in the PALOH-UK programme to support the transition of our MT-RNR1 test from PALOH-UK based funding to embedding into routine practice to ensure that newborn babies across the UK continue to have access to this preventive test."

Funding for PALOH-UK sites is provided by the Office for Life Sciences("OLS") and National Institute for Health and Care Research ("NIHR") and will cease by June 2026, with some sites completing earlier. Subsequent review and issuance of final guidance by NICE is expected around July 2027.

genedrive plc	[phone]
Gino Miele: CEO / Russ Shaw: CFO	https://investors.genedrive.com/s/e0025c
Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser and Broker)	[phone]
James Steel
5654 & Company (Media & Investor Relations)	[e-mail]
Matthew Neal	[phone]
Melissa Gardiner	[phone]

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About genedrive plc (http://www.genedrive.com).

genedrive plc is a UK-based, commercial-stage pharmacogenetic testing company focused on rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests to guide safe and effective drug prescription in emergency and acute care settings.

genedrive's proprietary technology platform enables clinicians to prescribe safer and more effective therapies based on a patient's genetic profile, supporting improved outcomes while reducing pressure on healthcare systems, lowering downstream healthcare costs through the prevention of avoidable complications and earlier, more effective intervention

The Company has two CE-IVD approved and NICE-recommended tests in NHS clinical use. The Genedrive® CYP2C19 ID Kit identifies stroke patients who will not respond to the current standard of care, Clopidogrel, used to reduce risk of secondary stroke. The Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID Kit helps prevent antibiotic-induced hearing loss (AIHL) in newborns, enabling treatment decisions within actionable timeframes at the point of care.

Headquartered in Manchester, genedrive is focused on scaling UK-developed precision diagnostics within routine care and leveraging real-world evidence to support broader international adoption and commercial growth.

 

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