Genetic Technologies to Launch Ground-breaking Comprehensive Risk Test for Breast & Ovarian Cancer

Rhea-AI Summary

Genetic Technologies Limited (ASX: GTG; NASDAQ: GENE) announces a novel risk assessment test for breast and ovarian cancers, combining genetic and clinical risk factors into a single saliva test. This unique offering addresses an unmet need, as current high-penetrant gene tests yield negative results for a majority of women. The test aims to identify at-risk individuals in the general population, enhancing early detection strategies. Commercialization efforts include consumer testing and partnerships with insurers and healthcare providers. This comprehensive test has been clinically validated and aims to improve health outcomes while leveraging the company's existing laboratory in Melbourne.

Positive

• Introduction of a unique saliva risk assessment test for breast and ovarian cancers, combining genetic and clinical risk factors.
• The test aims to improve early cancer detection by identifying at-risk women in the general population.
• Commercialization efforts include multiple channels, such as consumer testing and partnerships with healthcare providers.
• The clinical validation of the test is backed by over 10 years of research.

Negative

• No commercial agreements are in place with U.S. payers despite ongoing discussions.
• The current market still relies on traditional high-penetrant gene tests that often return negative results.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genetic Technologies Limited (ASX: GTG; NASDAQ: GENE, “Company”, “GTG”), a global leader in genomics-based tests in health, wellness and serious disease, is delighted to provide further update.

The innovation and development of this test is inspired by direct response and feedback from the payer conversations such as insurance providers, employers, and healthcare providers. There is an unmet need to develop a unique single saliva risk assessment test that combines gene mutation for breast and ovarian cancers, hereditary and sporadic indicators and other relevant clinical risk factors. There is no other single test on the market that provides this array of information from a single test. The company has multiple patents granted¹ and pending that support the combination of genetic and clinical risk factors.

The combination of general population ovarian risk assessment and breast cancer risk assessment in a single risk test that both incorporate disease-specific polygenic risk components for low penetrant risk alleles and clinical risk factors are the novel combination. It is very common to have the two diseases paired^2,3 in the high penetrant breast and ovarian susceptibility genetic testing environment as some of the genes, like BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer risk for both cancer types. But the fact is that the majority of women tested for these high penetrant breast and ovarian susceptibility genes come back with negative results, meaning^4,5 they do not carry a mutation (aka pathogenic variant). Even more so, the general population prevalence, or the chance of a woman carrying a cancer susceptibility mutation for breast or ovarian cancer, is extremely low (less than 0.5% of women¹). But far more women end up developing cancer (12% of women develop breast and 1.3% develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime). We know cancer isn’t just caused by “faulty genetics.” This comprehensive breast and ovarian cancer risk assessment marries a standard HBOC genetic test with the geneType risk score^6,7 for both diseases. The former will benefit ~0.5% of users who get a positive result, and the remaining 99.5% of women who obtain a negative result will now have more insight to their absolute risk of developing each cancer. And if that absolute risk score comes back high, the patient and her doctor will be able to engage in shared decision-making discussions around supplemental screening and risk-reduction options that are available to at-risk women. This test would be utilized as a screening tool to risk stratify the entire general population to identify a subset of women that would not have otherwise been identified. This could lead to the individual and the physician to provide supplemental screening to achieve early detection of the diseases.

The test will be commercialized through the following channels:

• Company’s Consumer Initiated Testing Web Platform
• Business to Business relationships including, but not limited to:
  • Insurance providers
  • Employers
  • Healthcare providers
  • Biotech companies developing technology in breast cancer
• Direct sales to Health Care Professionals with our business development team
  

GTG is in discussions with a range of US payers regarding the adoption of the geneType breast cancer risk assessment test. While no commercial agreements are in place at this time, there are commercial pilot protocols in place with a few U.S. based payer groups. The Company’s progress regarding the Company’s endeavours in this regard have been previously referred to in the Company’s ASX submitted quarterly updates and recent investor presentations. GTG have also engaged Alva10 to assist the Company with its U.S. payer engagement strategy (see 15 June 2022 ASX Release) . Alva10 have introduced GTG to US-based global health service companies that cover up to 22 million lives in the U.S. and have over 180 million customer and patient relationships globally. A further update of the Company’s progress was included in the ASX release dated 30 August 2022, as part of our annual results announcement. A principal reason for the development of this test has directly emerged from our discussions with these groups as it was a test they were seeking.

In addition, GTG has a direct sales presence in the US that is promoting the geneType suite of tests directly to Healthcare Professionals (HCPs). A number of these HCPs have commenced using geneType. It is our intention to also offer the Comprehensive Risk test for breast and ovarian cancer through this channel, noting that the channel already exists. Consumer Initiated Testing (CIT) is now available allowing patients to directly request the test (only in the USA) through GTG’s website. GTG will be initiating promotion of the Comprehensive Risk test for breast and ovarian cancer through these channels in the coming weeks as part of our commercialization strategy and the test will be showcased at the BRCA 2023 Symposium in Montreal in late May.

The Test is already clinically validated and proven by over 10 years of research and analysis. Our data has been included in scientific publications, two recent examples are listed below, and is included in granted patents¹. Regulatory approval is a routine procedure that we put all of our LDT’s (Laboratory Developed Test) through before we can launch them under our CLIA certification/NATA accreditation. There are no formal registration requirements for an LDT with the FDA. The test will be performed within a high complexity CLIA certified lab to enable U.S. commercialization. This is the same process applied to all our GeneType tests. GTG has such a laboratory located in Fitzroy Melbourne with the appropriate “High Complexity” certification. GTG’s Fitzroy laboratory currently performs a number of different geneType tests for the US market in this facility under that certification.

Clinical validation of the data has been established through multiple peer reviewed journals including:

Journal of Precision Medicine publication confirms GeneType Risk Test outperforms traditional risk assessments for breast cancer ⁸(ASX Release: 29 September, 2022)

Genetype for Ovarian Cancer published in prestigious European Journal of Cancer Prevention ⁹(ASX Release: 9 November, 2022)

Authorised for release by the board of directors of Genetic Technologies Limited.

Enquiries

Investor Relations
Adrian Mulcahy
Automic Markets
M: +61 438 630 411
E: adrian.mulcahy@automicgroup.com.au

About Genetic Technologies Limited

Genetic Technologies Limited (ASX: GTG; Nasdaq: GENE) is a diversified molecular diagnostics company. A global leader in genomics-based tests in health, wellness and serious disease through its geneType and EasyDNA brands. GTG offers cancer predictive testing and assessment tools to help physicians to improve health outcomes for people around the world. The company has a proprietary risk stratification platform that has been developed over the past decade and integrates clinical and genetic risk to deliver actionable outcomes to physicians and individuals. Leading the world in risk prediction in oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, Genetic Technologies continues to develop risk assessment products. For more information, please visit www.genetype.com

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements about the Company's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, statements regarding the expected use of proceeds. In addition, from time to time, the Company or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of the Company's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. As forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause the Company's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements as detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its periodic filings with the ASX in Australia and the risks and risk factors included therein. In addition, the Company operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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¹ Patent No: US 11,072,830, Patent No: US 10,683,549, Patent No: US 10,920,279 Methods for assessing risk of developing breast cancer
² https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7392772/#s9title
³ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32347951/
⁴ Maxwell KN et al. J Clin Oncol 2016;34:4183–5
⁵ https://www.breastcancer.org/facts-statistics
⁶ Spaeth E, Dite G, Allman R. Abstract P2-10-06: Validation of abridged breast cancer risk assessment model for the general population. Cancer Research 2022; 82: P2-10-06-P12-10-06.
⁷ Dite GS, Spaeth E, Murphy NM, Allman R. A combined clinical and genetic model for predicting risk of ovarian cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2023;32(1):57-64. doi:10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000771
⁸ https://app.sharelinktechnologies.com/announcement/asx/29aed8bcc5c0e04e382bee06d5b70a4e
⁹ https://app.sharelinktechnologies.com/announcement/asx/9885c90de5331e96c4922597351e1edf

FAQ

What is the new test introduced by Genetic Technologies Limited?

The new test is a saliva-based risk assessment for breast and ovarian cancers, integrating genetic and clinical risk factors.

How does the new risk assessment test impact early cancer detection?

By identifying at-risk individuals in the general population, the test aims to facilitate early detection and preventative measures.

Is Genetic Technologies Limited in discussions with U.S. payers for the new test?

Yes, the company is currently in discussions with U.S. payers, although no commercial agreements have been finalized.

What are the commercialization channels for the new test from Genetic Technologies Limited?

The test will be commercialized through direct consumer testing, business partnerships with insurers, and sales through healthcare professionals.

Has the new test been clinically validated?

Yes, the test has been clinically validated over more than 10 years of research and analysis.