MD Anderson and Myriad Genetics form strategic alliance to evaluate clinical utility of Myriad’s molecular residual disease assay
Rhea-AI Summary
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Myriad Genetics have announced a five-year strategic alliance to accelerate the clinical evaluation and development of Myriad’s molecular residual disease (MRD) assay.
This collaboration combines Myriad’s oncology diagnostic expertise with MD Anderson’s clinical research capabilities to create a portfolio of studies evaluating the clinical validity and utility of Myriad’s Precise MRD test. The studies will focus on breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and gynecological cancers.
Myriad's Chief Scientific Officer, Dale Muzzey, emphasized the potential of the Precise MRD test to enhance treatment strategies by detecting tumor-derived DNA at very low levels, which could improve patient outcomes.
Under the agreement, MD Anderson will handle patient enrollment, sample collection, clinical data analysis, and manuscript writing, while Myriad will provide funding, MRD testing, and scientific research support, along with potential milestone and royalty payments.
MD Anderson's Christopher Flowers highlighted the alliance's goal to explore MRD testing applications, including relapse monitoring, identifying high-risk patients, and potential intervention approaches.
Positive
- Strategic alliance with MD Anderson enhances Myriad's clinical research capabilities.
- Potential for Precise MRD test to improve cancer treatment strategies.
- Studies aim to support national guideline inclusion and healthcare provider adoption.
- Collaboration includes funding, potential milestone, and royalty payments from Myriad.
Negative
- None.
Insights
The strategic alliance between MD Anderson and Myriad Genetics represents a pivotal development in cancer diagnostics and treatment monitoring. The collaboration's focus on Precise MRD's ultrasensitive detection capabilities (detecting tumor DNA at significantly lower levels than first-generation tests) could revolutionize how cancer progression and treatment response are monitored.
The study portfolio spanning breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and gynecological cancers is particularly comprehensive. The dual approach of retrospective and prospective studies strengthens the potential for robust clinical validation. If successful, inclusion in national guidelines would significantly expand Myriad's market presence in the rapidly growing <money>$5.8 billion</money> global MRD testing market.
Put simply: Think of MRD testing as a highly sensitive smoke detector for cancer - it can detect even the smallest traces of cancer cells remaining after treatment, potentially allowing doctors to adjust treatment plans much earlier than current methods allow.
This alliance has substantial commercial implications for Myriad Genetics. The partnership with MD Anderson, a top-tier cancer center, provides significant validation potential for Precise MRD. The milestone and royalty payment structure suggests confidence in the technology's commercial viability.
The agreement's structure is particularly favorable - while Myriad provides funding and testing support, successful outcomes could lead to expanded market access through guideline inclusion, potentially driving substantial revenue growth. The global MRD testing market is projected to grow at a <percent>12.5%</percent> CAGR through 2030, representing a significant growth opportunity.
In everyday terms: This is like getting a seal of approval from one of the world's most respected cancer centers - if the studies succeed, it could help Myriad capture a larger share of a rapidly growing market, potentially boosting their revenue significantly in the coming years.
HOUSTON and SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Myriad Genetics, Inc. today announced a five-year strategic alliance to accelerate the clinical evaluation and development of Myriad’s molecular residual disease (MRD) assay.
This strategic alliance brings together the longstanding oncology diagnostic experience of Myriad Genetics and the clinical and translational research expertise of MD Anderson to create a portfolio of studies to evaluate the clinical validity and utility of Myriad’s Precise MRD.
“We look forward to working with MD Anderson to evaluate Precise MRD’s utility in cancer care,” said Dale Muzzey, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Myriad Genetics. “Our collaborative studies will explore how our ultrasensitive Precise MRD test can enhance treatment strategies for providers and improve patient outcomes. We are optimistic that our MRD test’s ability to quantitatively detect tumor-derived DNA at very low levels — far lower than is possible with first-generation MRD tests — will open new opportunities for therapy-response and recurrence monitoring.”
Under the terms of the agreement, MD Anderson and Myriad Genetics will collaborate to design both retrospective and prospective studies to investigate the test’s utility in breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and gynecological cancers. The goal of these studies is to generate evidence that supports national guideline inclusion and healthcare provider adoption. MD Anderson investigators will lead patient enrollment, sample collection, clinical data analysis and manuscript writing. Myriad will provide funding, MRD testing and scientific research support as well as potential milestone and royalty payments under the collaboration.
“This strategic alliance brings together cutting-edge technology and expertise from Myriad with disease-focused expertise and clinical trials excellence from MD Anderson,” said Christopher Flowers, M.D., division head of Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson. “We aim to explore numerous applications for MRD testing, including monitoring patients for relapse after treatment, identifying high-risk patients in need of clinical trials, and potentially intervention approaches.”
The alliance expands upon existing collaborations between MD Anderson researchers and Myriad, including ongoing studies in breast cancer and renal cell carcinoma.
About Myriad Genetics
Myriad Genetics is a leading genetic testing and precision medicine company dedicated to advancing health and well-being for all. Myriad develops and offers genetic tests that help assess the risk of developing disease or disease progression and guide treatment decisions across medical specialties where genetic insights can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. For more information, visit Myriad.com.
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world, and, in 1971, it became one of the nation’s first National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers. MD Anderson is No. 1 for cancer in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” rankings and has been named one of the nation’s top two hospitals for cancer since the rankings began in 1990. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including that Myriad will work with MD Anderson to evaluate Precise MRD’s utility in cancer care, MD Anderson and Myriad Genetics will collaborate to design both retrospective and prospective studies to investigate the test’s utility in breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and gynecological cancers, the collaborative studies will explore how the Precise MRD test can enhance treatment strategies for providers and improve patient outcomes, and Myriad’s belief that its MRD test’s ability to quantitatively detect tumor-derived DNA at very low levels will open new opportunities for therapy-response and recurrence monitoring. These “forward-looking statements” are management’s expectations of future events as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, conditions, and events to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated. Such factors include those risks described in the company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2024, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in the company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. Myriad is not under any obligation, and it expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.
Investor Contact
Matt Scalo
(801) 584-3532
IR@myriad.com
Media Contact
Glenn Farrell
(385) 318-3718
PR@myriad.com
FAQ
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