NewGene aims for period of rapid growth

Oct 15 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

AFTER doubling staff numbers, recruiting a business development manager and launching a new website, a North East genetic testing company is aiming for a period of rapid growth.

Newcastle-based NewGene undertakes genetic diagnostic testing for the healthcare sector and provides DNA services for scientists.

Based at the Life Incubator Suite at the International Centre for Life, it was set up as a collaboration between Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University. Jonathan Robinson, NewGene’s recently-appointed business development manager, said: “By using the latest gene-sequencing technologies, we aim to bring down the cost of genetic testing for diseases such as breast cancer and leukaemia and so increase their availability to patients and the public.”

NewGene achieved it sales targets in its first year and believes its improved profile will now help it achieve rapid growth. One of its unique selling points is its ability to conduct hereditary disease analysis for a range of conditions with just one test, rather than having to test for each individually.

It currently employs eight people after recruiting four new staff in the last six months and believes by increasing its profile, it can achieve rapid sales growth.

Mr Robinson added: “By providing lower cost services, NewGene is offering more for less, which means that patients will continue to benefit as more diagnostic tests come online.”

David Huntley, NewGene’s chief executive, added, “While the technology available to the company is vitally important, our principal asset is the clinical and genetic expertise of our staff. Headed up by our scientific director, Dr Ann Curtis, the NewGene team has vast experience and clinical expertise in the fields of genetics and molecular biology.”

Dr Curtis said: “The NHS offers an excellent genetic diagnostic service, helping clinicians to diagnose hereditary diseases and deliver treatments, but over the past 20 years the number of diseases that have been linked to genetic mutations has increased many times over. This increase in demand is stretching the NHS service and this is where NewGene comes in.

“The new technology we offer increases testing capacity significantly, and since we offer services at relatively low cost, we can help take the strain from NHS services.”