Genetic Analysis AS enters an agreement with Microbiome Research Pvt. Ltd. to launch GA-map[®] technology in India

OSLO, NORWAY – 16 January 2023: Molecular diagnostics specialist, Genetic Analysis AS (“GA”) has entered a Tech Transfer Agreement with Microbiome Research Pvt. Ltd. (“MRPL”), a Mumbai based biotechnology company providing microbiome profiling services within the gut microbiome space in India. MRPL will launch a test service portfolio based on the GA-map® Dysbiosis Test – making it the first CE-IVD marked standardized gut microbiome test on the Indian market. The service offering will also target clinical research customers and medical customers. Commercial launch is expected in Q2 2023.

Ronny Hermansen, CEO, Genetic Analysis, comments:
“GA continues to enter new markets, and we are proud to have MRPL as a partner in an emerging market like India. The GA-map® platform offers a fast turnaround lab testing service with an integrated software algorithm for immediate result presentation of your microbiome analysis. We believe microbiome testing will soon be a game changer in medicine and are certain that the GA-map® platform will be of great support to MRPL in their mission to help people in India understand their microbiome.”

The market demand in India for gut microbiome assessments is rapidly increasing in private healthcare services, medical clinics, and academic research with dysbiosis being a new and nascent concept. Together with MRPL, GA can now offer its CE-IVD marked standardized gut microbiome test to the Indian market to meet the growing interest and raise awareness of dysbiosis. While the direct market potential of GA-map® is difficult to determine, the second-best method to understand the market potential is to look at the Digestive Health market and Probiotic market. Research suggests about 50% of Indian families reported digestive health problems with indigestion, acidity, and gas being the top 3 digestive health issues. This indicates that there is huge potential for the GA-map® test. Another indicator of the market potential is the Probiotic market which is currently valued at USD 35 million and growing at 40% CAGR. Together, these two indicators provide a good insight into the potential of GA-map®.

Ravi Shroff, Founder and Managing Director, MRPL, comments:
"Our mission is that we want to get down to the root of the problem that originates from the gut. The vision is how we can get people to take charge of their health. By offering different gut microbiome profiling services we are one of the first movers in this space in India. We are in the process of building a whole ecosystem around gut health and genetic testing. To launch services based on a clinical CE-marked microbiome test powered by GA-map® technology is a milestone for our journey to develop this market.”