Business
Ventilator Programme, Trading & Financial Update
Ventilator Programme, Trading & Financial Update.
About this update from Science Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n RNS Number : 7388L\n Science Group PLC\n 04 May 2020\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 4 May 2020\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ventilator Programme, Trading and Financial Update\n \n \n \n \n \n \n As announced on 31 March 2020, Science Group's product development business, Sagentia, has been engaged on the UK Government's Rapidly Manufactured Ventilator System (RMVS) initiative. The initial requirements in the \"new-design\" stream of the Government's 3-pillar ventilator strategy were based on achieving high volume and rapid manufacture of a new ventilator design in an environment with severely constrained supply chains and global component sourcing conflicts. This enormous challenge was satisfied by Sagentia through a highly innovative software-free approach creating a unique ventilator design, primarily based on mechanical fabrication.\n \n \n \n \n The design, development and prototyping phases of the Sagentia Ventilator have been performed under a time-and-materials Design Contract. While this phase is almost complete, with an initial production unit and associated documentation having been submitted to MHRA, development to refine the device is ongoing. As widely reported in the media, the RMVS specification evolved over the past 7 weeks, reflecting the increasing understanding of the Covid-19 virus. The Sagentia Ventilator continued to evolve in line with the changing functionality requirements. On 28 April, Cabinet Office issued an \"Update on the Ventilator Challenge\" which confirmed that the Sagentia Ventilator is still being supported and further funding under the Design Contract was provided to Sagentia. The latest version of the device is to be re-tested at the MHRA-designated laboratory today.\n \n \n \n \n \n On the same date, MHRA also updated its guidance on the gov.uk web site, advising that MHRA would not be proceeding with any new applications under the RMVS licensing model since \"\n \n The UK has fulfilled the clinical need for ventilators through a combination of existing CE marked ventilators and existing applications to the Ventilator challenge.\"\n \n This MHRA decision is in fact highly significant, removing a core principle of the RMVS programme for new products. In order to progress into manufacture and be d...