Veracyte Announces Data Showing Percepta Genomic Atlas Detects Gene Alterations Targeted in Lung Cancer Treatment, Using Diagnostic Biopsy

Veracyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCYT) announced today new data demonstrating the ability of the Percepta Genomic Atlas to detect alterations that may inform lung cancer treatment decisions for patients from the same small biopsy that was used for diagnosis. Study findings presented today at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2021 International Conference show that the test accurately detects known lung-cancer gene variants using small biopsy samples, which may help guide treatment with targeted therapies.

The in-development Percepta Genomic Atlas will provide comprehensive genomic profiling information on cancerous lung nodules, masses or lymph nodes, utilizing small samples from the same biopsy procedure used for diagnosis (i.e., transbronchial needle aspirate biopsies or TBNA). The test uses targeted DNA and whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing to detect alterations in more than 50 genes known to be present in lung cancer. Veracyte plans to launch the test in the second half of 2021 as part of the company’s comprehensive portfolio of genomic tests in lung cancer.

For the analyses presented at the ATS Conference today, researchers evaluated the feasibility of detecting National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-recommended gene alterations with the Percepta Genomic Atlas, using samples from 25 patients obtained during initial bronchoscopy procedures. Results show that the in-development test accurately detected the gene variants in these samples with over 95 percent concordance to a reference next-generation sequencing assay.

“Physicians today are often challenged to obtain genomic profiling information on their lung cancer patients’ tumors, due to inadequate tissue, logistical delays and other factors. As a result, patients often do not receive optimal treatment,” said Giulia C. Kennedy, Ph.D., Veracyte’s chief scientific officer and chief medical officer. “These findings give us confidence that the Percepta Genomic Atlas will be able to accurately detect gene alterations that may allow patients to be treated with targeted therapies that are available now and that will be available in the future. Importantly, we believe it will be able to provide this critical information near the time of diagnosis, enabling earlier and more appropriate treatment.”