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AUSTIN, Texas - Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA), a $22.37 billion diagnostics company with impressive 44% year-over-year revenue growth, announced new study results validating its Signatera test for monitoring recurrence and treatment response in early-stage uterine cancer patients, according to a press release statement. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a healthy 63% gross profit margin despite operating in a competitive healthcare sector.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Precision Oncology, analyzed 233 plasma samples from 61 patients with stage I/II uterine cancer who had undergone surgical staging. This development has caught analysts’ attention, with InvestingPro reporting 11 analysts recently revising their earnings expectations upward for the upcoming period.
The research found that Signatera positivity was highly prognostic of cancer recurrence in both postoperative settings (HR=7.6) and post-definitive therapy settings (HR=25.4). The test outperformed conventional clinicopathologic factors as a risk indicator.
Among patients monitored with Signatera, all those who experienced recurrence tested positive before clinical confirmation, with a median lead time of 3.1 months. No patients who consistently tested negative experienced recurrence.
"ctDNA positivity was more prognostic of recurrence than any of the traditional risk stratification factors used in practice, and importantly, it is individualized for every patient," said Michael Toboni, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and principal investigator of the study.
Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States. While most patients are diagnosed at early stages with low recurrence risk, some face up to 30% risk of recurrence despite having uterine-confined disease.
The study builds upon previous research establishing Signatera testing as a prognostic tool in early-stage uterine cancer. Natera develops cell-free DNA tests for oncology, women’s health, and organ health applications. With a strong current ratio of 3.72 and moderate debt levels, InvestingPro analysis indicates the company is well-positioned financially to continue its research and development efforts. For detailed insights and additional ProTips about Natera’s financial outlook, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Natera has reported positive results from its IMvigor011 trial, a significant advancement in Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) testing for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The trial, sponsored by Genentech, demonstrated that patients who tested positive for circulating tumor DNA using Natera’s Signatera test and received treatment showed statistically significant improvements in both disease-free and overall survival. Following these results, UBS reiterated its Buy rating on Natera, maintaining a price target of $218.00. Piper Sandler also reiterated an Overweight rating with a $220.00 price target, highlighting the correlation between MRD-negative status and improved survival as a critical metric in oncology.
In another development, Wells Fargo resumed coverage of Natera with an Equal Weight rating and a price target of $175.00, citing the company’s strong position in the cell-free DNA testing market. However, Natera faced a setback as a North Carolina district court invalidated its patent claims against NeoGenomics, ruling them as "claiming ineligible subject matter." This court decision led to the dismissal of Natera’s claims with prejudice. Despite this, the company remains focused on finalizing its premarket approval application for the FDA as a companion diagnostic test.
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