Launch of seaweed-based lateral flow housings

6 November 2025

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE UK VERSION OF REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED ("MAR"). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Abingdon Health plc

("Abingdon Health", the "Group" or the "Company")

Launch of seaweed-based lateral flow housings

Alternative to standard plastic housings to reduce plastic waste from LFTs

Abingdon Health plc (AIM: ABDX), a leading international developer, manufacturer and regulatory services provider for rapid diagnostic tests and med-tech, announces the launch of a seaweed-based alternative housing for its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) customers for the development and manufacture of lateral flow tests (LFTs).

The Company has agreed an exclusive supply agreement with Wolverhampton based Symbio Technologies Ltd ("SymbioTex") for the supply of compostable bio-based material derived from red-seaweed which can be used to produce lateral flow cassettes via standard injection moulding techniques. This option will provide an alternative to the standard plastic houses that are currently used and create opportunity for Abingdon customers to significantly reduce their plastic waste.

The Company has developed prototype cassettes in both standard format and in mid-stream urine sample format as is used for pregnancy and fertility testing.

Olivia Simpson, Managing Director of SymbioTex, commented: "SymbioTex is delighted to have agreed the exclusive supply of our seaweed-based home compostable biomaterial to Abingdon Health. It is a truly home compostable, sustainable material that can be used to revolutionise the production of packaging and medical devices currently made from single-use plastic."

Dr Chris Hand, Executive Chairman of Abingdon Health plc, commented: "LFTs are crucial for rapid diagnostic testing with over 2 billion used annually across the globe. However, this generates greater than 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste. By offering a plastic free rigid cassette in a range of formats, Abingdon Health aims to help our CDMO customers reduce plastic waste without compromising on the functionality of the tests. The use of SymbioTex's material, as well as harnessing the power of renewable natural resources, gives us the practical benefit of using traditional plastic injection moulding machinery thereby easing the development pathway".

Enquiries:

About Abingdon Health plc

Abingdon Health Group is a leading med-tech contract service provider offering its services to an international customer base.

The Group's CDMO expertise offers lateral flow product development, regulatory support, technology transfer and manufacturing services for customers looking to develop new assays or transfer existing laboratory-based assays to a lateral flow format. Abingdon Health has the internal capabilities to take lateral flow projects, in areas such as infectious disease and clinical testing, including companion diagnostics, animal health and environmental testing, from initial concept through to routine manufacturing; from "idea to commercial success". Abingdon Analytical Ltd offers performance evaluation for lateral flow and other in vitro diagnostic assays from its Doncaster laboratory. 

Founded in 2008, Abingdon Health is headquartered in York, England with laboratories in Doncaster, England and laboratories and commercial offices in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Abingdon Health's brochure outlines the comprehensive support the Group can now provide to its international customers. For more information visit: www.abingdonhealth.com.