Biotechnology firm opens Birmingham headquarters
A leading biopsy and genomic testing firm unveiled its new Birmingham headquarters with the help of Angela Douglas MBE, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England.
Nonacus and genomic testing laboratory Informed Genomics looks to continue providing non-invasive and improved cancer testing methods in the Quinton-based site.
Nonanus was founded in 2015, after noticing gaps in the non-invasive testing market. It is a spin-out of The BioHub in the University of Birmingham.
The early team developed a full clinical workflow that laboratories and scientists could adopt to screen pregnant women for abnormalities in the foetus. CEO Chris Sale and CSO Lee Silcock discovered that many of their orders were coming from cancer labs rather than labs focused on prenatal testing.
Since focussing their efforts on workflows for cancer, the company employs more than 50 people and reported turnover of £53.9m in its annual accounts with an operating profit of £33.9m. It has also invested around £20m of profits back into the company to support research and development.
The Informed Genomics team are experts in clinical and translational genomic testing, enabling them to offer optimal solutions for both clinical diagnostics and genomic research projects.
The company aims to make genomic testing in cancer accessible to all, enabling earlier diagnoses, personalised treatments, and improved patient outcomes.
Angela Douglas MBE, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England, said: “Nonacus understands the need for laboratories to continually deliver high-quality innovative testing, and their goal is to support them to do just that. Nonacus has developed dedicated early cancer detection through liquid biopsy testing, resulting in better, more personalised care and positively impacting patient outcomes.
“The NHS set out in the Long Term Plan a new ambition that by 2028, the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 will rise from around the 50%, it is now to greater than 75% of cancer patients.
“The NHS will continue to expand the use of personalised and risk stratified screening tests, such as those offered by Nonacus, to achieve these ambitions.
“Additionally, the NHS will expand the offer of more extensive genomic testing and whole genome sequencing to patients, ensuring more people can access these tests and receive the most clinically appropriate personalised treatments and care. It is companies like Nonacus and Informed Genomics that will help the NHS achieve these ambitions”.
Nonacus CEO, Chris Sale, said: “We’ll be expanding into Germany, Nordics, the Benelux region, and other key European countries where there’s a significant demand for diagnostics and progressive healthcare systems.
“The future and the focus of the company is to continue to listen to our customers and rapidly develop the tests, products and services that our customers need. There’s never been a greater need for rapid, accurate early cancer detection products and services”.
