SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2020--
Veracyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCYT) announced that the company has launched “More About You,” a web-based campaign that is designed to educate patients about thyroid nodules, and empower them to both engage in conversations with their physicians and ask for molecular testing when appropriate. The campaign centers on the company’s new website, www.AskForAfirma.com, and addresses critical challenges that patients with potentially cancerous thyroid nodules experience during their diagnostic journey.
“Our research shows that patients today have limited awareness that their thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration biopsy results may be indeterminate. This can negatively impact their ability to receive advanced testing and personalized care,” said John Hanna, chief commercial officer of Veracyte. “Our goal is to help educate patients so that they can have more productive conversations with their physicians about their thyroid nodules and ensure they understand their diagnostic options, including molecular testing.”
Veracyte’s new website features information about what patients can expect when undergoing thyroid nodule evaluation, what the possible results could be and what they mean. It also provides questions for patients to ask their physicians once a thyroid nodule has been detected. In addition, the site includes information about Afirma genomic testing, which the company estimates has helped over 160,000 patients avoid unnecessary diagnostic surgery or receive more informed treatment based on the genomic makeup of their thyroid nodules. Veracyte will communicate information about the campaign and website to patients and physicians via online, social media and other channels.
About Thyroid Nodules
Each year in the United States, more than 565,000 fine needle aspiration biopsies are performed to assess patients with potentially cancerous thyroid nodules. Up to 30 percent of the results are indeterminate and physicians have traditionally recommended thyroid surgery for a more definitive diagnosis. Following surgery, however, 70 to 80 percent of patients’ nodules are diagnosed as benign, meaning the surgery was unnecessary. Such surgery is invasive, costly and often leads to the need for lifelong daily thyroid hormone replacement drugs.
About Afirma
The Afirma Genomic Sequencing Classifier (GSC) and Xpression Atlas provide physicians with a comprehensive solution for thyroid nodule diagnosis. The Afirma GSC was developed with RNA whole-transcriptome sequencing and machine learning and helps identify patients with benign thyroid nodules among those with indeterminate cytopathology results in order to help patients avoid unnecessary diagnostic thyroid surgery. For those with suspected thyroid cancer, the Afirma Xpression Atlas provides physicians with genomic alteration content from the same fine needle aspiration samples that are used in Afirma GSC testing and may help physicians decide with greater confidence on the surgical or therapeutic pathway for their patients.
About Veracyte
Veracyte (Nasdaq: VCYT) is a leading genomic diagnostics company that improves patient care by providing answers to clinical questions that inform diagnosis and treatment decisions without the need for costly, risky surgeries that are often unnecessary. The company’s core products are uniquely developed with RNA whole-transcriptome sequencing and machine learning to deliver results that give patients and physicians a clear path forward. Since its founding in 2008, Veracyte has commercialized seven genomic tests and is transforming the diagnosis of thyroid cancer, lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In December 2019, Veracyte acquired the exclusive global diagnostic rights to the nCounter platform from NanoString Technologies, Inc., through which it plans to make its genomic tests available to physicians and their patients worldwide. These include commercial and in-development tests in breast cancer and lymphoma, respectively, which Veracyte also acquired through the transaction. Veracyte is based in South San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.veracyte.com and follow the company on Twitter (@veracyte).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “may,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding Veracyte’s expectations regarding the ability of the “More About You” campaign to educate patients about thyroid cancer Diagnosis, the current and future impacts of COVID-19 on Veracyte’s business, actions Veracyte has taken in response to COVID-19, and Veracyte’s long-term outlook, the expected impacts of the acquisition from NanoString on Veracyte, including its ability to expand its platform globally, its ability to increase the efficiency of its advanced genomic testing, and its plans to transfer its current and pipeline genomic tests onto the nCounter system; Veracyte’s ability to advance the development and commercialization of novel diagnostic tests under the collaboration with Johnson & Johnson; the ability of Veracyte to achieve the expected benefits from the Acerta collaboration; and its ability to potentially inform diagnosis and treatment decisions in new oncology indications. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance, but are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from our predictions, and include, but are not limited to: Veracyte’s ability to achieve and maintain Medicare coverage for its tests; the benefits of our tests and the applicability of clinical results to actual outcomes; the laws and regulations applicable to Veracyte’s business, including potential regulation by the Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory bodies; Veracyte’s ability to successfully achieve and maintain adoption of and reimbursement for its products; the amount by which use of Veracyte’s products are able to reduce invasive procedures and misdiagnosis, and reduce healthcare costs; the occurrence and outcomes of clinical studies; and other risks set forth in Veracyte’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and Veracyte specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or reasons why actual results might differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Veracyte, Afirma, Percepta, Envisia, Prosigna, LymphMark, More About You and the Veracyte logo are trademarks of Veracyte, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200501005124/en/
Tracy Morris
Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
650-380-4413
tracy.morris@veracyte.com
Source: Veracyte, Inc.