The study adds to growing evidence around the utility of cell-free DNA testing in lung cancer patients, while highlighting shortcomings of the approach.
The company will launch a clinical version of its liquid biopsy assay in the second quarter and plans to launch clinical trials that make the case for reimbursement.
Using BGI's sequencing technology, the firms plan to commercialize Natera's Signatera test in China and to develop reproductive health tests in "select markets."
The assay monitors mutations across a patient's genome and matches them to mutations found in a patient's resected tumor and in DNA in the bloodstream.
The company is currently conducting clinical studies to validate AlloSure's technology — which underlies its kidney transplant test — in lung transplant patients.
A team led by researchers at the NHLBI are testing the efficacy of measuring ddcfDNA in blood as a biomarker of chronic rejection for lung transplants.
With several SBIR grants from the NIH, the firm is also using its Liquid Scan platform to identify neonatal trophoblast cells in maternal blood samples.
The company plans to focus on increasing its NIPT reimbursement as well as on pharmaceutical deals for its oncology test and launching a kidney transplantation test.
