Lab21 and BreastHealth UK Form Partnership for Breast Health Management

Cambridge, 27 January 2009… BreastHealth UK (BHUK) and Lab21 today announced they have established a partnership to offer UK women state-of-the-art personalised health management and predictive genetic testing for breast cancer risk.

Lab21 Limited is a private clinical diagnostic service company that maintains one of the most comprehensive breast cancer diagnostic portfolios in Europe. It has brought together a range of novel and proprietary tests to accurately measure predisposition to breast cancer and to optimise treatment options in patients diagnosed with breast disease. Many of these tests such as the deCODE BreastCancer™ assay and the Myriad assays are available in the UK exclusively through Lab21.

BHUK offers comprehensive, personalised, private breast screening services designed to give women concerned about their breast health peace-of-mind. The partnership with Lab21 provides patients with high quality laboratory diagnostic services to support the expanding portfolio of diagnostic and breast screening services.

BreastHealth UK is launching a new approach to screening called the ‘Breast Health Risk Assessment Service’. The deCODE BreastCancer™ test, which has been validated in more than 100,000 women, will be offered as part of an overall breast cancer risk assessment that takes into account family history and lifestyle factors using the Tyrer-Cuzick model. Results will be provided in consultation with an experienced breast surgeon to interpret the results and recommend potential follow-up breast screening as required.

The Myriad BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic tests are suitable for women with a strong family history of breast cancer and specialist counselling is provided to support women that require this test. The Myriad BRCA tests are based on extensive clinical research and are currently the only tests available which address predisposition to familial (inherited) breast cancer.

Dr Berwyn Clarke, CSO at Lab21, explained, “The relationship with BreastHealth UK is a major step forward for Lab21 because it opens up a unique route to market for our breast health diagnostics. The combination of premium diagnostic services with the renowned clinical expertise offered by BreastHealth UK provides women in the UK with an outstanding health management service.”

Graham Mullis, CEO at Lab21, added, “We are delighted to be working with BreastHealth UK who share our objective of offering women high quality and timely diagnostic information. Our superior expertise in logistical support will allow BreastHealth UK to provide results to the patient with the fastest possible turnaround time, helping to reduce the stressful waiting period that many women experience.”

Troels Jordansen, CEO of BreastHealth UK, commented, “Our aim is to offer appropriate and timely breast screening to women of all ages, to ensure that breast cancer or other problems are identified and treated early. This test enables us to personalise screening programmes more accurately based on women’s individual risk scores. We are very pleased to be working with Lab21 who have an excellent track record in the delivery of these types of tests.”

BHUK works in close cooperation with Spire Healthcare and is expanding the number of clinics in the UK via the Spire hospital network to provide nationwide access to its screening programme.

-ENDS-

Notes for Editors:

For further information please contact:

For BreastHealth UK:
Helen Goldrein/Rachel Holdsworth, PR consultants
Holdsworth Associates
Tel: 01954 202789 Email: helen@holdsworth-associates.co.uk

For Lab21:
College Hill
Tony Stephenson/Rebecca Walker/Sue Charles
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7866 7864 Email: lab21@collegehill.com 

At Lab21:
Graham Mullis, CEO
Dr Berwyn Clarke, CSDO
Tel: +44 (0)1223 395450
Email: graham.mullis@lab21.com  or berwyn.clarke@lab21.com 

About Lab21

Lab21 is a global provider of state-of-the-art diagnostic products and services, supporting drug discovery and healthcare. Its customers include healthcare providers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The Company has a growing test portfolio providing companion diagnostics and high technology assays for the growing integration of personalised medicine into healthcare. These services and products are currently in infectious diseases, oncology and pharmacogenetics areas with emerging interests in cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

Lab21's clinical reference laboratory and corporate office is based in Cambridge, UK and the Company's investors include Merlin Biosciences, Nexus Medical, Rowan Dratington and Kreos Capital

For more information visit www.lab21.com 

About BreastHealth UK

BreastHealth UK (BHUK) offers comprehensive, personalised, private breast screening services designed to help worried women gain peace-of-mind.

BHUK combines state-of-the-art technology such as Digital Infrared BreastScan and genetic tests with a range of traditional breast screening services including clinical breast examination (CBE), mammography, breast ultrasound and ultrasound guided biopsy, and breast MRI.

BHUK helps to ensure that breast cancer is identified early and an appropriate individual treatment pathway implemented. To achieve this BHUK works with leading breast surgeons, radiologists, genetic counsellors and other breast specialists across UK.

Early detection of breast cancer reduces the need for surgery and improves survival and quality of life. At present, routine NHS breast screening is available for women between 50 and 70 years old. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 35.

BreastHealth UK established its first clinic in Cambridge in 2008 and a nationwide network is planned. The second clinic opened at Spire Washington in December 2008.

Please visit www.BreastHealthUK.com for further information.

About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, according to the World Health Organization. The ACS estimates that 182,400 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths.

According to Cancer Research UK women can make lifestyle changes which reduce the risk of developing breast cancer including avoiding obesity, taking regular exercise initiating and prolonging breast feeding and avoiding alcohol.