Product Launch

14 June 2012

Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings plc

Launch of hypertension assays on the IDS‐iSYS system

Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings plc ("IDS"), a leading producer of manual and automated specialist diagnostic testing kits and instrumentation for the clinical and research markets continues its drive for innovation by today announcing its entry into the hypertension testing market with the launch of two new assays for aldosterone and direct renin on the IDS‐iSYS immunoassay system. The IDS‐iSYS system now supports a total of 13 specialist immunoassays.

The IDS-iSYS aldosterone assay is the only automated aldosterone assay on the market, and together with the IDS-iSYS direct renin assay, means the IDS-iSYS is the only fully automated system on which this complementary pair of assays is available. Together they have a specific role in diagnosing the most prevalent form of secondary hypertension, primary aldosteronism (also called Conn's syndrome). The Endocrine Society Guidelines for Hypertension (2008) recommend that all patients belonging to high risk hypertensive groups should be tested for aldosterone and renin and that the aldosterone: renin ratio be calculated in order to identify primary aldosteronism.

The availability of these assays on the IDS-iSYS system should yield productivity gains as run times are shorter as a consequence of being the only combined automated aldosterone and renin tests that can be performed simultaneously. IDS believes that adoption of these tests will increase with the potential to more than double the number of laboratories performing these assays over a three year period.

Ian Cookson, CEO of IDS, said: "We are very pleased to announce the launch of our aldosterone and renin assays which expands the test menu available on our IDS‐iSYS system, consistent with our strategy for building a compelling specialist immunoassay menu to drive future revenue growth. These tests are the first step in taking the IDS-iSYS into new and exciting areas of growing importance. We believe that the ability to offer a convenient test that will facilitate the differential diagnosis for primary aldosteronism as well as the ability to guide anti-hypertensive therapy and assess potential cardiovascular risk of patients will increase the utility and value of the IDS-iSYS system to clinical laboratories.

"We continue to work on innovative new automated specialist assays and we look forward to announcing further product launches later this year."

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Notes to Editors:

More on aldosteronism and hypertension

The prevalence of primary aldosteronism is 10-13% of total hypertensive patients. One in three people worldwide regardless of age and gender suffers from hypertension which is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), heart failure, aneurysms of the arteries (e.g. aortic aneurysm), peripheral arterial disease as well as a cause of chronic kidney disease.

The current market value (US and Europe combined) for renin and aldosterone assays is estimated at over £8 million and £10 million respectively.