Enigma, Beijing Leadman sign agreement for MiniLab molecular diagnostic Point-of-Care platform

Enigma Diagnostics Ltd. (Enigma) and Beijing Leadman Biochemistry Co., Ltd. (Beijing Leadman) (SZSE:300289) signed a joint venture agreement with the principal goal of delivering the Enigma MiniLab molecular diagnostic Point-of-Care platform into the Chinese health care market to support its growing diagnostic needs.

The joint venture will develop relevant molecular diagnostic tests, other products and instruments for the Chinese market and will undertake manufacturing in China. Beijing Leadman is Enigma's exclusive joint venture partner.

Enigma was founded in 2004 to develop and commercialize technology and IP from the UK Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). Leveraging its extensive range of proprietary technologies and Intellectual Property, the company developed the MiniLab that combines the speed and sensitivity of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with the simplicity needed for Point-of-Care testing.

The MiniLab is the world's first Point-of-Care Highly Multiplex PCR Platform that provides clinicians 24/7 access to molecular diagnostic laboratory-quality results in an hour using a range of highly-multiplex PCR panels that are stored at ambient temperature. The MiniLab's fast comprehensive results enable a quicker diagnosis and targeted treatment, which improves clinical outcomes while reducing costs.

The easy-to-use, fully automated platform is designed to be used in developed and emerging health care programs, requires simple training and has nil operator variance. It enables rapidly-expanding health care systems the opportunity to build a diagnostic health care architecture that is cost-effective and patient-centric across multiple testing sites, unconstrained by traditional laboratory costs and limited physician availability.

The joint venture combined with new investment is central to Enigma's global commercialization and recognizes its potential to be the leading force in global molecular diagnostic Point-of-Care testing using highly-multiplex PCR panels.