Veracyte, Inc., a leading genomic diagnostics company, has begun making its next-generation Percepta® Genomic Sequencing Classifier (GSC) available to physicians, providing them with expanded lung cancer risk information that can further guide next steps for patients with suspicious lung nodules, as compared to the original Percepta test. The RNA whole-transcriptome sequencing-based test is Veracyte’s first commercial product to emerge since entering into a long-term strategic lung-cancer collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, which was announced in January 2019.
Veracyte based in South San Francisco, California, is a leading genomic diagnostics company that improves patient care by providing trustworthy and actionable answers to challenging clinical questions. Since its founding in 2008, Veracyte has commercialized three genomic tests, which are transforming the diagnosis of thyroid cancer, lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The company’s products uniquely combine advanced genomic technology, clinical science and machine learning to provide answers that give physicians and patients a clear path forward, informing both diagnosis and treatment decisions without the need for costly, risky surgeries that are often unnecessary.
The Percepta GSC utilizes machine learning and is built on novel “field of injury” science – which identifies genomic changes associated with lung cancer in current or former smokers using a simple brushing of the person’s airway. The test is performed on a sample from the patient’s main lung airway, which is collected during a bronchoscopy. Veracyte estimates that approximately 360,000 bronchoscopies are currently performed each year to evaluate suspicious lung nodules for cancer and that up to 60 percent of these produce inconclusive results.
Veracyte is also developing a nasal swab for lung cancer detection and expects to unveil early data for the swab test later this year. Under terms of the agreement, Veracyte and the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson & Johnson will combine clinical study cohorts involving more than 5,000 patients with multiple years of clinical outcome data. Veracyte will contribute bronchial and nasal samples from its clinical trials, which are part of the company’s extensive lung cancer-focused biorepository.
“Lung nodules are often challenging to diagnose using traditional tools, which can lead to unnecessary invasive procedures or to delayed treatment.” … “The ability to use genomic testing – such as the Percepta GSC – to determine which patients need intervention and those who may be safely monitored with routine imaging can help improve patient outcomes.” – Giulia Kennedy, Ph.D., chief scientific and medical officer, Veracyte
“We are excited to make the Percepta GSC available to physicians as an important tool that will help them further guide next steps for patients undergoing evaluation for suspicious lung nodules.” Bonnie Anderson, chairman and chief executive officer, Veracyte
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