Myriad Genetics Reports Favorable Study Result On Prequel
Zacks Investment Research | Dec 04, 2019 09:24PM ET
Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN) publishes favorable study results on the Prequel Prenatal Screen in the journal Prenatal Diagnosis. The highlight of the study is to prove the superiority of Prequel over the traditional non-DNA screening used for identifying chromosomal abnormalities in pregnant women, including those with high body mass index (BMI).
Per the company, almost half the population of pregnant women have a BMI that can adversely affect the accuracy of the non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS). This, in turn, leads to patient anxiety, and more expensive and invasive screening methods like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
With the positive outcome of NIPS, Myriad Genetics aims to strengthen foothold in the global NIPS test market — a segment of the company’s molecular diagnostic testing business.
About the Study
Prequel’s performance is based on the whole genome sequencing (WGS) approach, which identifies chromosomal irregularities like trisomy 21 (T21), trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 13 (T13). The Prequel screen uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to decide whether the pregnancy is at an increased risk for chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.
The Prequel Prenatal Screen: A Breakthrough
According to the previous results of the study, Prequel is accurate at all FF levels and does not necessitate a FF cutoff like other NIPS offerings. However, in the current study, the company has demonstrated the efficacy of Prequel in all women, irrespective of their BMI, race or ethnicity. This is an upgrade from the traditional NIPS, which had a higher fetal fraction (FF) cutoff and non-DNA screening methods.
It also indicated that the tests that are required to use a FF cutoff may actually underperform at higher BMIs, unlike the Prequel. This, in turn, will ease patient’s anxiety to some extent after the first screening itself, accelerating diagnosis.
Industry Prospects
Per a report by Zacks Investment Research
Get The News You Want
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.