Genomics-based biotech Genetic Technologies Limited (ASX:GTG, NASDAQ:GENE, OTC:GNTLF) has released its novel Comprehensive Risk Assessment test, which covers 100% of women at risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Test for deadly cancers
The innovative test, available to all women above the age of 30, assesses a woman’s risk of cancer due to hereditary disease, including those with common gene mutations, and sporadic disease.
Launched at the inaugural Know Your Risk event in California, USA, which provided invaluable insights of the role of genomics in women’s health, the test will give clinicians a complete understanding of patients’ risk profiles of developing one of these deadly cancers.
Co-hosted by Dr Kristi Funk, known for her surgical treatment of celebrity Angelina Jolie, alongside CEO and founder of Humanise Health, Krystal Barter, the event also featured panellists such as US-based OB-GYN Dr Carolynn Young, Andrea Hans, Allyn Rose Oertel and Matthew Zachary.
The addition of the germline component to GTG’s platform provided the ability to screen 100% of women at risk.
Gene mutation cause
Retrospective data shows 5% to 10% of breast and ovarian cancers are caused by gene mutations and the remainder are due to sporadic condition.
This represents a massive market opportunity for geneType, with one in eight chances of a woman in the US developing breast cancer equating to about 310,000 diagnosed cases annually.
Although less prevalent, ovarian cancer accounts for 19,600 cases diagnosed yearly in the US and claims 12,700 deaths annually.
Ovarian cancer is more deadly and is among the leading cause of cancer deaths in women.
Importance of genetic testing
Genetic Technologies CEO Simon Morriss said: “We are incredibly proud to have been part of this ‘Know Your Risk’ event which underscored the importance of genetic testing and risk assessment in transforming women’s health, inspiring attendees to advocate for their health and wellbeing proactively.
“We are also very fortunate and to have the opportunity to launch this unique risk assessment test in the presence of such a wonderful group of people.”
Genetic Technologies chair Peter Rubenstein said: “We are also excited to announce that in preparation for significant demand for this revolutionary test we have fully onboarded a high throughput automated laboratory in the United States with capacity to scale up to run 100,000 tests per month should future demand require. Every woman deserves the right to know her risk.”