Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN), a leader in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine, today announced it will present new data on its proprietary variant classification program that is used to classify variants in cancer risk genes.  The study will be highlighted at the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and Genomics annual clinical genetics meeting in Tampa, Fla.

“As the world leader in multi-gene panel testing for hereditary cancer, we have a long track record and commitment to advancing the science of variant classification,” said Johnathan Lancaster, chief medical officer, Myriad Genetic Laboratories.  “Our goal is to provide physicians with the highest quality results possible for every test we perform.”

Myriad’s myVision variant classification program is comprised of proprietary techniques that allow for the most accurate classification for hereditary cancer variants including: Pheno®, M-Co®, InSite™ and LitView™.  The Pheno technique is a history weighting algorithm that could only be developed by Myriad after sequencing the DNA of more than 400,000 patients. 

In this study, the Pheno algorithm was used to analyze variants of unknown significance associated with high cancer risk genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6.  Additionally, the algorithm was updated to analyze variants of unknown significance in moderate cancer risk genes including ATM, CHEK2 and PALB2.  The results of this study showed that Pheno was >99.5 percent accurate for upgrading and downgrading variants of uncertain significance to more definitive clinical classifications. 

“As the myRisk Hereditary Cancer 25-gene panel test becomes more integrated into clinical practice, there will be a need to classify a greater number of variants,” said Lancaster. “Variants of uncertain significance are particularly problematic for physicians because they leave questions as to whether variations in a patient’s DNA are of concern.  This study demonstrates the ability of Pheno to accurately classify variants from a broader range of genes, which should help reduce anxiety for more patients and their families.”

Details about the featured Myriad presentations at ACMG are below.  Follow Myriad on Twitter via @MyriadGenetics and stay up-to-date with the meeting by using the hashtag #ACMGMtg16.

Myriad Presentations

  • Title: Reclassification of uncertain variants identified in high and moderate cancer risk genes using history weighting analysis.Date: Friday, March 11, 2016: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.Location: Poster 110.Presenter: Karla Bowles, Myriad Genetic Laboratories.
  • Title: Detailed review of four patients affected with cancer that were previously unaffected at the time of single syndrome testing and subsequently had pathogenic variants identified by a 25-gene panel.Date: Thursday, March 10, 2016: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.Location: Poster 109.Presenter: Allison Anguiano, Myriad Genetic Laboratories.

About Pheno and myVision Variant Classification Program

Pheno is a family history-weighting tool that compares the severity of personal and family histories of patients who carry a specific variant to that of individuals who carry known deleterious mutations and to individuals in whom no mutation was detected.  Pheno is a proprietary component of the myVision™ Variant Classifcation Program, which is the most advanced informatics program in the industry, overseeing the classification and reclassification of genetic variants, and is part of Myriad’s commitment to patients and their families that lasts a lifetime.  For more information about Myriad’s variant classification program visit: https://www.myriadpro.com/for-your-practice/myvision-2/.

About Myriad myRisk® Hereditary Cancer Testing

The Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer test uses next-generation sequencing technology to evaluate 25 clinically significant genes associated with eight hereditary cancer sites including: breast, colon, ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic, prostate and gastric cancers and melanoma.  For more information visit: https://www.myriad.com/products-services/hereditary-cancers/myrisk-hereditary-cancer/.

About Myriad Genetics

For more than 25 years, Myriad Genetics Inc., has been a leading personalized medicine company dedicated to being a trusted advisor transforming patient lives worldwide with pioneering molecular diagnostics.  Myriad discovers and commercializes molecular diagnostic tests that: determine the risk of developing disease, accurately diagnose disease, assess the risk of disease progression, and guide treatment decisions across six major medical specialties where molecular diagnostics can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs.  Myriad is focused on three strategic imperatives:  transitioning and expanding its hereditary cancer testing markets, diversifying its product portfolio through the introduction of new products and increasing the revenue contribution from international markets.  For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: www.myriad.com.

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BART, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, myPath, Myriad myRisk, myRisk Hereditary Cancer, myChoice, myPlan, BRACAnalysis CDx, Tumor BRACAnalysis CDx, myChoice HRD, Vectra, Prolaris, Pheno and myVision are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to the Company being a leader in multi-gene panel testing for hereditary cancer; providing physicians with the highest quality results possible for every test the Company performs;  the ability of Pheno to accurately upgrade and downgrade variants of uncertain significance; statements about myRisk Hereditary Cancer 25-gene panel test becoming more integrated in clinical practice; the ability of Pheno to accurately classify variants from a broader range of genes, which should help reduce anxiety for more patients and their families; and the Company's strategic directives under the caption "About Myriad Genetics."  These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that sales and profit margins of our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services may decline; risks related to our ability to transition from our existing product portfolio to our new tests, including unexpected costs and delays; risks related to decisions or changes in governmental or private insurers’ reimbursement levels for our tests or our ability to obtain reimbursement for our new tests at comparable levels to our existing tests; risks related to increased competition and the development of new competing tests and services; the risk that we may be unable to develop or achieve commercial success for additional molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that we may not successfully develop new markets for our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services, including our ability to successfully generate revenue outside the United States; the risk that licenses to the technology underlying our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and any future tests and services are terminated or cannot be maintained on satisfactory terms; risks related to delays or other problems with operating our laboratory testing facilities and our healthcare clinic; risks related to public concern over genetic testing in general or our tests in particular; risks related to regulatory requirements or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries and changes in the structure of the healthcare system or healthcare payment systems; risks related to our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations or licenses and acquire new technologies or businesses on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks related to our ability to successfully integrate and derive benefits from any technologies or businesses that we license or acquire; risks related to our projections about our business, results of operations and financial condition; risks related to the potential market opportunity for our products and services; the risk that we or our licensors may be unable to protect or that third parties will infringe the proprietary technologies underlying our tests; the risk of patent-infringement claims or challenges to the validity of our patents or other intellectual property; risks related to changes in intellectual property laws covering our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and patents or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries, such as the Supreme Court decision in the lawsuit brought against us by the Association for Molecular Pathology et al; risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K.  All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

Media Contact:        

Ron Rogers
(908) 285-0248
rrogers@myriad.com                         

Investor Contact:     

Scott Gleason
(801) 584-1143
sgleason@myriad.com
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