Prime Highlights:

• Reacta Healthcare, based in North Wales, is expanding its global reach with two new food allergy diagnostic products.
• Backed by the Development Bank of Wales, the company is advancing innovation in accurate and safe food allergy testing worldwide.

Key Facts:

• Reacta Healthcare employs around 80 peopleand supplies Oral Food Challenge (OFC) products to over 300 clinical trial sites globally.
• It is the only OFC supplierin the world operating under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, ensuring pharmaceutical-grade quality.

Background:

North Wales-based Reacta Healthcare is expanding globally with the launch of two new food allergy diagnostic products and plans to grow its international reach. Backed by the Development Bank of Wales, the company is improving how food allergies are tested and diagnosed.

Based in Deeside, Reacta Healthcare has around 80 employees and makes Oral Food Challenge (OFC) products used in allergy testing. These are supplied to more than 300 clinical trial sites worldwide. Reacta is also the only OFC supplier that meets Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, guaranteeing top-quality pharmaceutical products.

Founded from technology developed at the University of Manchester by Professors Ashley Woodcock and Claire Mills, Reacta relocated to North Wales in 2018 to scale up production. Since then, it has established a state-of-the-art MHRA-licensed facility capable of supporting major clinical research programs worldwide.

The Development Bank of Wales has invested £2.8 million in Reacta Healthcare, including £1 million from an earlier 2021 funding round led by Praetura Ventures. This support has helped the company increase its production capacity, add new products, and grow from a small food-science business into a fully licensed pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Reacta’s products are currently being used in multiple global therapeutic trials, including a Phase 3 trial for a new peanut patch therapy expected to seek approval in the United States by 2026.

Paul Abrahams, Chief Executive of Reacta Healthcare, said the company’s growth reflects confidence in Welsh innovation, “The support from the Development Bank of Wales gave us the capital and confidence to grow. We’re proud to show that world-class science can thrive right here in North Wales.”

Belinda Mortell, Head of Commercial, added that Reacta’s products are “playing a key role in shaping global healthcare.”

Duncan Gray, Technology Venture Investments Director at the Development Bank, described Reacta as “a great Welsh success story,” highlighting North Wales as an emerging hub for advanced life sciences and manufacturing.