Moss, 29 September 2023

Gentian Diagnostics ASA, a fast-growing developer and manufacturer of diagnostic
tests, is pleased to announce that its new CE-marked Gentian Retinol-Binding
Protein Immunoassay is now available for sale. This diagnostic test is an
insourced product from a reputable European supplier which has enabled Gentian
to launch the product quickly and without significant R&D spend.
    
The assay is instrument independent and can be applied on a wide range of
automated clinical chemistry analysers with a normal process time of less than
10 minutes.
 
The company sees an increasing demand for this assay, largely driven by an aging
population and lifestyle associated diseases and deficiencies. Further, the
company estimates the market for RBP to EUR 10-20 million. The initial market
focus will be on Europe, followed by the US, both by pursuing established
distribution channels, but also through new partners.

The Gentian RBP assay contributes to the diagnosis and monitoring of population
wide diseases. RBP is a transport protein for retinol (vitamin A) in blood,
synthesised in the liver and reabsorbed in the kidney. The diagnostic value is
to be found in altered levels of circulating RBP in many conditions, including:
vitamin A deficiency, undernutrition, renal dysfunction and diabetes.

The global increase of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and kidney disease as
well as high prevalence of malnutrition, underlines the importance of analysing
RBP to shed further light on these conditions. Studies show that RBP levels are
elevated in patients with diabetes and renal dysfunction and reduced in
conditions such as vitamin A deficiency and undernutrition [1,2]. Malnutrition
presents a substantial socioeconomic challenge in today's healthcare landscape,
especially in long-term care facilities, where the prevalence has been reported
to be as high as 85% [3]. 

Gentian Diagnostics' CEO Dr. Hilja Ibert says: "Today's launch of the Gentian
Retinol-Binding Protein Immunoassay is part of our ambition to bring a steady
stream of high-impact diagnostic tests to market, using our expertise in moving
immunoassays from low-volume to high-volume clinical analysers". 

For sales and marketing enquiries
Markus Jaquemar, CCO markus.jaquemar@gentian.com   +47 919 21 709


For investor enquiries
Njaal Kind, CFO 
Njaal.kind@gentian.com   +47 919 06 525

About Gentian Diagnostics
Gentian Diagnostics (OSE: GENT), founded in 2001, develops and manufactures
high-quality, in vitro diagnostic reagents. Gentian's expertise and focus lies
within immunochemistry, specifically infections, inflammations, kidney failures
and congestive heart failures. By converting existing and clinically relevant
biomarkers to the most efficient automated, high-throughput analysers, the
company contributes to saving costs and protect life. Gentian is based in Moss,
Norway, serving the global and veterinary diagnostics markets through sales and
representative offices in Sweden, USA and China. For more information, please
visit www.gentian.com.

References: 1. Tanumihardjo, S.A., et al., Biomarkers of Nutrition for
Development (BOND)-Vitamin A Review. J Nutr, 2016. 146(9): p. 1816s-48s. 2.
Steinhoff, J.S., A. Lass, and M. Schupp, Retinoid Homeostasis and Beyond: How
Retinol Binding Protein 4 Contributes to Health and Disease. Nutrients, 2022.
14(6). 3. Bharadwaj, S., et al., Malnutrition: laboratory markers vs nutritional
assessment. Gastroenterology Report, 4(4), 2016, 272-280