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Natera Launches Initiative to Transform the Management of Cancer Patients in Organ Transplantation
Innovative technology platform for cell-free DNA testing in oncology and organ transplantation uniquely positions Natera to help improve outcomes for the most
About this update from Natera, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Innovative technology platform for cell-free DNA testing in oncology and organ transplantation uniquely positions Natera to help improve outcomes for the most vulnerable transplant patients\n\n\nSAN CARLOS, Calif., Sept. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a pioneer and global leader in cell-free DNA, announced an expansive program to improve care for organ transplant patients with a history of cancer, using the Signatera™ test for molecular residual disease (MRD) assessment pre- and post-transplant, in combination with the Prospera™ test for transplant rejection assessment. The goal of the program is to understand how the Signatera and Prospera tests can be used to improve decision making at the complex intersection of organ transplantation and oncology, and respond to the unmet needs within these communities.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\"This research program promises to be a significant advance in personalized care for transplant patients with cancer, or with a history of cancer,\" said Michael Volk, MD, Division Head, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Loma Linda University Medical Center. \"Not only can it help us better understand these patients' risk as they undergo evaluation for liver and kidney transplantation, but it will inform the development of guidelines for tailored monitoring and timely treatment, an area in which data is sorely lacking.\"\nA significant number of patients being evaluated for a transplant have a history of cancer, as patients with end-stage renal disease have a 20% higher rate of colorectal cancer than the general population,1 making it difficult for patients to receive a transplant due to the uncertain risk of recurrence. Furthermore, this is exacerbated by the fact that transplant recipients require immune-suppressing medications to avoid rejection, which can increase the risk of new or recurring cancers. There is a large unmet need for more precise, data-driven clinical practice guidelines for the assessment and management of these patients who may be denied life-saving organ transplants based on their history of cancer.\nThe initial phase of Natera's program encompasses three study concepts that will be discussed in depth at the virtual TTS 2020 symposium on September 14th, 2020, in a presentation entitled, \"The Interface of Solid Organ Transplant and Oncology: A New Paradigm...