GENinCode PLC (AIM:GENI) Partnership with Genesupport SA for the ROCA® Test

GENinCode partners with Genesupport SA for the ROCA® Test in Switzerland

Ovarian cancer surveillance using the ROCA Test to be made available to individuals across Switzerland

Oxford, UK. GENinCode Plc (AIM: GENI), the predictive genetics company focused on the prevention of cardiovascular disease (“CVD”) and risk of ovarian cancer (“OC”), announces its partnership with Genesupport SA, part of the Sonic Switzerland network of laboratories, to enable country-wide access to the ROCA® Test.

In March 2024, the ROCA Test received a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (“NICE”) recommendation as the preferred test for OC surveillance in individuals at high risk of ovarian cancer who wish to defer risk-reducing surgery.¹ Based on this milestone, Genesupport SA will make the ROCA Test available through all Sonic Switzerland diagnostic and genetic companies, including Genesupport, Medigenome Medisupport, Medica, Medisyn, and Dr Risch. These companies cover all major Swiss cities (Geneva, Lausanne, Bern and Zurich), and regional centers (e.g. St. Gallen, Zug, Lucerne, Lugano/Locarno). Genesupport is also affiliated with the major tumour centres and hospital groups across the country (e.g. Hirslanden and Swiss Medical Network). Genesupport will offer the test under the ROCA brand in Switzerland, to women who are BRCA positive and have not undertaken risk reducing surgery, with the test supporting an eligible population of more than 11,000 women at high risk of OC.

Each year there are over 300,000 new cases of OC globally and over half of those will die from the disease. The risk of developing OC is particularly high in individuals who inherit a known pathogenic variant in certain genes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2.² Such mutations occur in up to 0.4% of the general population and up to 3% of individuals of Jewish descent. Identifying such individuals through genetic testing will allow healthcare professionals to better mitigate that risk through preventive surgery and/or surveillance.

The ROCA Test uses a proprietary algorithm to calculate a woman’s individual OC risk based on several clinical factors including age and accumulating Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) blood test results. The ROCA Test has many years of clinical evaluation through prospective studies³ which have proven its high accuracy and ability to detect OC earlier. Earlier detection improves treatment outcomes.

Matthew Walls, Chief Executive Officer of GENinCode Plc, said: “We are delighted to partner with Genesupport to allow access to the ROCA Test in the Swiss market. After many years of academic and corporate investment, the ROCA test is now lifting the standard of care for patients at high risk of familial ovarian cancer who decide to defer preventive surgery. Surveillance using the ROCA test will help individuals feel more supported while they start or build their families or until they are ready to undertake surgery.”

Bernard Conrad, Chief Medical Officer of Genesupport, said: “Offering the ROCA Test throughout the Sonic Switzerland network synergises well with our other services in the field of genetic testing and women’s health. Based on the evidence that has accrued over many years, the ROCA Test is recognised as the best in class and is an important test to be able to offer women who face difficult choices in managing their familial ovarian cancer risk.”

¹ Project information | Ovarian cancer; identifying and managing familial and genetic risk |Guidance|NICE

² BRCA1, BRCA2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, RAD51C, RAD51D, BRIP1 and PALB2

³ Rosenthal, AN, et al. J. Clin. Oncol. 35(13): 1411-1420, 2017; Skates, SJ, et al. Clin. Cancer Res. 23(14): 3628- 3637, 2017; Philpott, S et al. J Med Genet. 60(5):440-449, 2023.

 For more information visit www.genincode.com