Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Awards 2021

34 GHP / Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Awards 2021 , Jul21312 Following its well-deserved recognition in this year’s programme we spoke with Circassia’s COO, Jonathan Emms, to find out more about their ethos and successes. Global Leaders in FeNo Testing 2021 GHP News: Please tell me about Circassia, the work you do and the types of clients with whom you work. JE: Circassia is a medical device company, and our ambition is to improve the lives of millions of people suffering from asthma. We do this by helping physicians assess patients more accurately using our proprietary NIOX® technology. NIOX® measures the level of fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in the breath, with results proven to help in the diagnosis and management of asthma. It’s our know-how and our dedication to customer support that enable us to bring NIOX® products to market that customers and patients really value. Our goal is to remain the leading provider of point- of-care FeNO monitoring and measurement, whilst at the same time raising awareness and usage of FeNO testing. When you consider how it all began, it really makes for a fascinating story. First came the discovery of the importance of Nitric Oxide as a signalling molecule in the body – so much so that work in the field was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998. This was followed by the discovery of the significance of FeNO as a biomarker in asthma and the development of NIOX® technology at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The ground- breaking innovations we’re able to develop now all started there. GHP: What makes Circassia unique? How do you differentiate yourselves from your competitors? JE: NIOX® technology really sets us apart. Circassia has been innovating in the FeNO market for more than 20 years and now makes NIOX VERO®, the gold standard FeNO analyser. We also made FeNO testing portable so it’s available at the point-of- care and added nasal NO testing to the NIOX VERO® so one device can do it all. NIOX VERO® is the most- used FeNO device, trusted for its reliability and accuracy by thousands of researchers working in clinical trials across the world. Being the device- of-choice for so many is an achievement of which I am immensely proud on the team’s behalf. Indeed, NIOX® was the first FeNO testing technology to be approved by the FDA. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) FeNO measurement cut-off points were derived from clinical studies in which 83% of participants used NIOX®. Most of the major national and international asthma guidelines now recommend FeNO testing, and we will continue to do all we can to facilitate it. GHP: What do you see as being the most significant challenge in your industry, and how are you prepared to overcome it? JE: FeNO testing is a cutting- edge procedure so the challenge is to spread the word in the hope that as many patients as possible can benefit from it. Covid-19 stopped the face- to-face physician education that was helping us do this but we responded by moving our interactive training resources online. The free webinar series, Masterclasses by Circassia, is directed by our lead nurse and FeNO expert. Each session offers more detailed insight into asthma and FeNO testing, as well as the chance to ask questions and see first-hand how NIOX VERO® works. We have been delighted with the response, having welcomed attendees to the masterclasses from all over the world. Routine asthma diagnosis and management have also been significantly interrupted during the pandemic and Circassia is working hard to support customers as they resume FeNO testing. FeNO is gaining ground as the healthcare professional’s biomarker of choice in asthma diagnosis and we are happy to play our part in raising awareness of all the available options. GHP: Given your mission, what would you say is Circassia’s most significant breakthrough or success? JE: Bringing FeNO testing out of the lab to make it available at the point-of-care was a significant breakthrough, not just for Circassia but for FeNO as a biomarker in asthma management. Many more patients have been able to benefit since the introduction of our point-of- care device and it’s an advance we were very proud to lead. This summer, we were honoured to announce that 40 million FeNO tests had been completed in over 50 countries using NIOX® technology. Our 340 Million Reasons campaign, highlighting the need to keep using FeNO testing to help the global asthma population, was warmly received. That milestone was a great marker of success for Circassia. GHP: Building on the success of your previous achievements, what does the future have in store for your firm? JE: The rest of this year is set to be exciting as we launch new online resources for the asthma community. To keep up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter at http://www.niox.com/subscribe. Of course, Circassia will continue to evolve NIOX® technology and strive to remain at the forefront of research and development. GHP: Finally, do you have anything you would like to add? JE: Circassia was proud to win the award for Global Leaders in FeNO Testing 2021. The accolade really underlines our commitment to lead research and development in FeNO testing devices and celebrates our continued support for the asthma and respiratory disease population. NIOX VERO® is sold in over 50 countries and is the only FeNO device simultaneously to hold a CE Mark and to be approved by the US FDA, China FDA (now the National Medical Products Administration) and NICE. We remain committed to that position. Company: Circassia Name: Jonathan Emms, COO Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.niox.com Address: Northbrook House, Robert Robinson Avenue, The Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GA Telephone: 01865 405560