Interpace Biosciences Announces Contract for Thyroid Testing with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Rhea-AI Summary

Interpace Biosciences has secured in-network coverage for its thyroid tests, ThyGeNEXT® and ThyraMIR®, with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, effective February 25, 2021. This partnership marks a significant milestone, as BCBS of Illinois is the largest health plan in Illinois, covering over 8 million lives. Additionally, Interpace has contracts with 19 health plans nationwide, enhancing the adoption of its thyroid diagnostics. Both tests offer advanced genetic analysis for thyroid cancer, potentially benefiting millions of patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Positive

• In-network status obtained with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, expanding test accessibility to over 8 million members.
• Established contracts with 19 health plans nationwide, indicating strong market adoption of thyroid tests.
• ThyGeNEXT® and ThyraMIR® are covered by Medicare and most commercial insurers, reaching over 280 million members.

Negative

• None.

In-network status for ThyGeNEXT^® and ThyraMIR^® with State’s Largest Payer

PARSIPPANY, NJ, Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interpace Biosciences, Inc. (“Interpace” or “the Company”), today announced that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, owned by Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC) and the largest health plan in Illinois with greater than 8 million covered lives, has entered into an agreement to provide both coverage and in-network status for Interpace’s molecular combination thyroid tests, ThyGeNEXT^® and ThyraMIR^®. The agreement is effective February 25, 2021.

Tom Burnell, President and CEO of Interpace Biosciences, stated, “We are pleased that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, a division of one of the largest payers in United States, Health Care Services Corporation, has agreed to contract with us for our molecular tests, making them available to their members on an in-network basis.” Mr. Burnell continued, “In the past year, we’ve entered into contracts with 19 health plans nationwide for coverage and in-network status for ThyGeNEXT^® and ThyraMIR^®, reflecting continued payer adoption for our thyroid franchise.”

About ThyGeNEXT^® and ThyraMIR^®

ThyGeNEXT^® utilizes state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify more than 100 genetic alterations associated with papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas, the two most common forms of thyroid cancer, as well as Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. ThyraMIR^® is the first microRNA gene expression classifier. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that bind to messenger RNA and regulate expression of genes involved in human cancers, including every subtype of thyroid cancer. ThyraMIR^® measures the expression of 10 microRNAs. Both ThyGeNEXT^® and ThyraMIR^® are covered by Medicare and most commercial insurers, with more than 280 million members covered.

According to the American Thyroid Association, approximately 20% of the 525,000 thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNAs) performed on an annual basis in the U.S. are indeterminate for malignancy based on standard cytological evaluation, and thus are candidates for ThyGeNEXT^® and ThyraMIR^®.

ThyGeNEXT^® and ThyraMIR^® reflex testing yields high predictive value in determining the presence and absence of cancer in thyroid nodules. The combination of both tests can improve risk stratification and surgical decision-making when standard cytopathology does not provide a clear diagnosis.

About Interpace Biosciences

Interpace Biosciences is an emerging leader in enabling personalized medicine, offering specialized services along the therapeutic value chain from early diagnosis and prognostic planning to targeted therapeutic applications.

Clinical services, through Interpace Diagnostics, provides clinically useful molecular diagnostic tests, bioinformatics, and pathology services for evaluating risk of cancer by leveraging the latest technology in personalized medicine for improved patient diagnosis and management. Interpace Biosciences has four commercialized molecular tests and one test in a clinical evaluation process (CEP): PancraGEN^® for the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer from pancreatic cysts; ThyGeNEXT^® for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer from thyroid nodules utilizing a next generation sequencing assay; ThyraMIR^® for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer from thyroid nodules utilizing a proprietary gene expression assay; and RespriDX^® that differentiates lung cancer of primary versus metastatic origin. In addition, BarreGEN^®, a molecular based assay that helps resolve the risk of progression of Barrett’s Esophagus to esophageal cancer, is currently in a clinical evaluation program (CEP) whereby we gather information from physicians using BarreGEN^® to assist us in gathering clinical evidence relative to the safety and performance of the test and also providing data that will potentially support payer reimbursement.

Pharma services, through Interpace Pharma Solutions, provides pharmacogenomics testing, genotyping, biorepository, and other customized services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Pharma services also advances personalized medicine by partnering with pharmaceutical, academic, and technology leaders to effectively integrate pharmacogenomics into their drug development and clinical trial programs with the goals of delivering safer, more effective drugs to market more quickly, while also improving patient care.

For more information, please visit Interpace Biosciences’ website at www.interpace.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, relating to the Company’s future financial and operating performance. The Company has attempted to identify forward looking statements by terminology including “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “intends,” “potential,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions and uncertainties involving judgments about, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These statements also involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to successfully qualify maintain the trading of its common stock on the OTCQX^® Best Market, the Company’s ability to achieve projected cost savings and to successfully enact corporate reprioritization measures, the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations and revenues, the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Company’s history of operating losses, the Company’s ability to adequately finance its business, the Company’s ability to repay its $5M secured bridge loan, the Company’s dependence on sales and reimbursements from its clinical services, the Company’s ability to retain or secure reimbursement including its reliance on third parties to process and transmit claims to payers and the adverse impact of any delay, data loss, or other disruption in processing or transmitting such claims, the Company’s revenue recognition being based in part on estimates for future collections which estimates may prove to be incorrect, and the Company’s ability to remediate material weaknesses in internal controls. Additionally, all forward-looking statements are subject to the “Risk Factors” detailed from time to time in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 22, 2020, as amended on May 29, 2020 and January 19, 2021, Current Reports on Form 8-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and amendments thereto. Because of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Contacts:
Investor Relations
Edison Group
Joseph Green/Megan Paul
(646) 653-7030/7034
jgreen@edisongroup.com/mpaul@edisongroup.com

FAQ

What is the significance of Interpace Biosciences' agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois?

The agreement allows Interpace's thyroid tests, ThyGeNEXT® and ThyraMIR®, to be covered and in-network for over 8 million members, enhancing access and potential usage.

How many health plans has Interpace Biosciences contracted with for its thyroid tests?

Interpace has contracted with 19 health plans nationwide for coverage and in-network status for ThyGeNEXT® and ThyraMIR®.

What are ThyGeNEXT® and ThyraMIR® used for?

ThyGeNEXT® and ThyraMIR® are molecular tests used for diagnosing thyroid cancer from thyroid nodules, providing high predictive value in determining cancer presence.

When did the new coverage agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois take effect?

The coverage agreement took effect on February 25, 2021.