OGT Announces Organisational Changes
Appointments strengthen push into molecular diagnostics
Oxford, UK – 9 April 2018. Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), The Molecular Genetics Company, has announced that on 1st April 2018 Dr John Anson who has been with the company since 2006 as EVP of R&D took over as CEO from Dr Mike Evans, who has become a non-executive director of OGT’s board. In addition, as part of the company’s increasing focus on diagnostics following its acquisition by Sysmex Corporation (Sysmex), OGT has appointed Paul Kenny in a new regulatory position—EVP of Regulatory and Medical Affairs. This new appointment will equip the company to successfully navigate the ever-evolving IVD regulatory landscape.
Dr Mike Evans has been with the company since 2005 during which time he spearheaded OGT’s transformation from a microarray licensing-led business model to a highly successful molecular genetics products business. During his tenure, Dr Evans oversaw the successful acquisition and incorporation of OGT’s Cytocell® fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) probes business in 2014—beginning the transformation into a diagnostics company. In 2017, Dr Evans led the company through the smooth acquisition by Sysmex, a leading provider of haematology and in vitro diagnostics products.
Dr Anson, has been responsible for OGT’s successful alignment with market growth in molecular genetics and the move towards molecular diagnostics. Dr Anson led R&D teams that are now collaborating with Sysmex to develop an automated system for FISH testing that combines Sysmex’s instrumentation technology with OGT’s high-quality FISH reagent development expertise. As CEO, Dr Anson will lead the company in its next chapter and help realise the opportunities of bringing together OGT’s innovation and expertise in genetic assays with Sysmex’s instrument development and in vitro diagnostic capabilities.
Dr Anson CEO, commented, “I am looking forward to picking up the mantle from Mike to steer OGT in its next growth phase as part of Sysmex, and the successful integration of our portfolios. We have already identified many great opportunities for product development combining our reagents expertise with Sysmex’s instruments. There are also excellent commercial synergies, further expanding our market access into molecular diagnostics— which is exactly where we want to grow.”
With the increasing focus on diagnostics, the appointment of Paul Kenny as EVP of Regulatory and Medical Affairs ensures the company is well positioned to handle all Regulatory Affairs matters as the regulatory landscape evolves, including clearance and post market surveillance in global markets. Paul comes to OGT from immunodiagnostic company, The Binding Site, where he was Head of Regulatory Affairs for five years, and has wide-ranging Regulatory Affairs expertise gained at The Binding Site, Olympus and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics.
For further information, please contact:
Oxford Gene Technology, Begbroke Science Park, Begbroke Hill, Woodstock Road, Begbroke, Oxfordshire, OX5 1PF, U.K.
T: +44 (0) 1865 856826 ; F: +44 (0) 1865 848684
E: contact@ogt.com ; W: www.ogt.com ; Twitter: @OxfordGeneTech
About Oxford Gene Technology
Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) provides world-class genetics research solutions to leading clinical and academic research institutions. Founded by Professor Sir Edwin Southern, and with customers in over 60 countries worldwide, OGT has a strong reputation and increasing share in the large and growing genomic medicine market. The Company’s Cytocell®, CytoSure™ and SureSeq™ range of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), microarray and next generation sequencing (NGS) products deliver high-quality genetic analysis, enabling accurate identification and confirmation of the causative variation underlying genetic disease. OGT was acquired by Sysmex Corporation (Sysmex), a Japanese in vitro diagnostic company in June 2017. The acquisition of OGT expands Sysmex’s life science business and reinforces its initiatives towards personalised medicine.
For more information on the Company, please visit our website at www.ogt.com
CytoSure™, SureSeq™ and myProbes®: For Research Use Only, not for use in diagnostic procedures. Cytocell: Some products may not be available in your region.
About Sysmex Corporation
Sysmex Corporation is a world leader in clinical laboratory systemization and solutions, including laboratory diagnostics, laboratory automation and clinical information systems. Serving customers for more than 50 years, Sysmex focuses on technological leadership in diagnostic science and information tools that make a difference in the health of people worldwide. The company is also exploring emerging opportunities in the life science field. Its R&D efforts focus on the development of high-value-added testing and diagnostic technologies that are innovative, original and optimize individual health. Sysmex also seeks to leverage its state-of-the-art technologies for cell, gene and protein analysis. The company, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, has subsidiaries in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China and Asia Pacific and employs more than 8,000 employees worldwide. Sysmex Corporation is listed in the top tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
For more information about Sysmex Corporation and its affiliate companies, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.
