Genetico (Genetics and Reproductive Medicine Center, MOEX: GECO) received Roszdravnadzor’s authorization to use the Prenetix test designed to identify the risk of developing genetic abnormalities in the fetus using the pregnant woman’s blood.
This was the first test registered under Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2026 dated 11/24/2021. Health care institutions now can legally provide prenatal screening services using Prenetix.
Prenetix (non-invasive prenatal test, NIPT) is a safe test that can accurately determine the risk of chromosomal pathologies of the fetus as early as in the 10th week of pregnancy. All the test requires is to draw venous blood from the expectant mother. Prenetix identifies the risk of the most common anomalies, such as: Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome, increased number of X chromosomes in girls and boys or Y chromosomes in boys, and other abnormalities.
According to published studies, the introduction of NIPT in standard prenatal screening can increase its effectiveness in identifying Down syndrome from 79% to 99.9%.
Genetico Center was one of the first companies to introduce NIPT into medical practice in 2014. In 2017, Genetico opened a laboratory in Moscow where they localized the Prenetix technology. All test stages are conducted in Moscow. The laboratory was created with the support of the Industrial Development Fund of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Russian Venture Company Biofund and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.
According to Genetico’ founder Artur Isaev: “At our initiative, the NTI (National Technology Initiative) Roadmap approved by the president included a number of measures to create opportunities for Russian developers to bring their developments in the field of gene therapy, genetic diagnostics and prevention to market. Instructed by the president, the Ministry of Health has developed regulations allowing developer laboratories to legitimize new assays produced as LDTs and genetic research methods and to implement them in medical practice as products officially approved by the Ministry of Health.”
Genetico Center is an Artgen Biotech company (ex. Human Stem Cell Institute (HSCI: MOEX: ISKJ). A resident of Skolkovo and Technopark Medtech. The company works in the field of medical genetics and genetic research, implementing into medical practice innovative solutions for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of genetic and socially significant diseases. Genetico’s shares are traded in the IIM (Innovation and Investment Market) sector, the exchange sector for high-tech companies with significant growth potential. Genetico’s shares are listed as high-tech economy sector securities.