Merger of local leaders in stem cell banking and genetic testing consolidate their position in African biotechnology industry.

We are very pleased to announce that Next Biosciences has merged with Genesis Genetics South Africa, the local provider of internationally pioneered genetic technology.

As a result, Genesis Genetics South Africa becomes a Next Biosciences company.

We believe that the merger is a positive development for the biotechnology industry locally and in Africa, and we’re excited about the role our companies will play in increasing the number of successful, healthy pregnancies and births.

By combining the complementary services of our two companies, Next Biosciences offers holistic range of genetic screening and cell banking services that span the pregnancy journey from pre-conception to post-birth. Our aim is to make these services more accessible, and to demystify the science behind stem cells and genetics. In so doing, we strive to enable people to take ownership of their babies’ future health through access to these technologies.

Genetic screening, testing and stem cell banking services available through Next Biosciences and Genesis Genetics include:

Prior to pregnancy

• Carrier screening of individuals for over 150 inherited genetic disorders
• Pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) of embryos generated through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to increase pregnancy success rates
• Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos generated through IVF to reduce the risk of passing on a genetic condition that is present in a family

During pregnancy

• Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for common chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome

At and post-birth

• Umbilical cord blood and tissue collection for stem cell banking upon delivery
• New-born screening for metabolic disorders
• The biotechnology industry in South Africa is internationally competitive thanks to our world-class researchers, scientists and industry innovators, and Next Biosciences is proud to play a leading role in bringing genetic and stem cell technologies to the continent.

Additional information on Genesis Genetics:

The company was established by Dr Mark Hughes, an acclaimed scientist known for his involvement in the Human Genome Project, and a founder of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis as a clinical practice. Internationally, Genesis Genetics is the pioneer of testing of embryos for inherited genetic abnormalities.

The parent company, Genesis Genetics International, was recently acquired by Cooper Surgical, which offers a diverse portfolio of products and services focusing on women’s health, fertility and diagnostics. This opens up further local and global opportunities to the Next Biosciences family of companies.

Through ongoing investment in future health possibilities that combine medicine, science and technology, Next Biosciences and Genesis Genetics embraces its vision of improving overall quality of life for people locally and across Africa.