RD Biomed announces Chinese distribution agreement for reflux diagnostic tool Peptest

RD Biomed, the Yorkshire medical technology company, has announced a Chinese distribution agreement for its world-leading reflux diagnostic tool Peptest.

The deal with Hong Kong-based investment and trading company MAAB International will see Peptest launched in China by 2016.

Peptest is the world’s first non-invasive diagnostic test for all forms of reflux disease. It measures the presence of the digestive enzyme pepsin in a clinical sample, such as saliva, which is a reliable marker for the reflux of gastric juice.

Under the exclusive three-year distribution agreement, MAAB International will be responsible for registering Peptest with Chinese regulatory body China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), with an official launch estimated in 2016 once licencing has been finalised.

Research has shown reflux is increasing in prevalence in China, with approximately 120 million adults suffering from heartburn and reflux symptoms (1). Through its partners in China, MAAB International has access to a nationwide network of sales and distribution channels giving it significant reach.

Professor Peter Dettmar, managing director of RD Biomed, said: “We’re delighted to sign a distribution agreement with MAAB International that will allow us to deliver the benefits of our Peptest screening tool to China. This important deal represents Peptest’s first significant venture into Asia and it is hoped that the relationship with MAAB International will develop across other key countries in the region.”

“Diagnosing reflux disease can be an expensive, slow and painful process, but Peptest can prevent unnecessary referral to invasive diagnostic tests such as an endoscopy or 24-hour pH monitoring and stop unnecessary prescription of drugs such as PPIs to patients not requiring them.”

Alex Lou, managing director at MAAB International, said: “We are honoured and excited to work with RDBiomed to bring Peptest into China. As the world's first non-invasive test for reflux disease, Peptest will help bring benefits for patients as well as enable medical professionals to make a diagnosis quickly and accurately.”

“There is a massive population in this market that is exposed to a risk of developing reflux and Peptest acts as an important bridge between a subjective assessment based on symptoms and a very painful examination experience of undergoing esophageal pH monitoring or gastrointestinal endoscopy.”

Peptest is currently distributed in Italy and Western Europe, Taiwan, Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey.

About RD Biomed
RD Biomed is a Hull-based medical technology company which has developed a novel diagnostic test for rapidly detecting the gastric enzyme pepsin in saliva/sputum and exhaled breath condensate samples. The Peptest, currently present in 18 countries, has been clinically validated in Gastro oesophageal Reflux, Extraoesophageal Reflux, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and chronic cough and is MHRA registered as an In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device. Professor Peter Dettmar is the former global Research and Development Director for Gastrointestinals at Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited with extensive experience in running product development programs and clinical trials and over thirty years’ experience of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

About MAAB International
MAAB International is an investment and trading company specialised in sourcing and bringing innovative medical technologies into China. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong and operates through subsidiaries and country affiliates in selected markets such as UK, Denmark, Taiwan and the list will continue to expand. The company is founded by industry veterans with a nice mix of expertise ranging from market access to sales & marketing. We aspire to work with creative and passionate entrepreneurs like ourselves everywhere in the world to make a change to people's life.

Visit www.peptest.co.uk for further information, clinical study publications and abstracts.

(1)A prevalence study in China, published in 1999, reported that the incidence rates are 8.97% for heartburn and reflux symptoms in adults, 5.77% for GERD and 1.92% for RE (Reflux Esophagitis).