Personalis MRD test predicts outcomes in lung cancer trial

FREMONT, Calif. - Personalis, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSNL), a $430 million market cap diagnostics company with a strong balance sheet showing more cash than debt, announced new data showing its NeXT Personal molecular residual disease (MRD) test effectively predicts outcomes in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving neoadjuvant therapy. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains healthy liquidity with a current ratio of 6.09, indicating strong operational flexibility.

The findings from AstraZeneca’s phase 3 NeoADAURA clinical trial will be presented at the IASLC 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona on September 7. While the stock has shown volatility with a beta of 1.87, InvestingPro analysis reveals seven additional key insights about the company’s financial health and market position. Discover comprehensive analysis in the Pro Research Report, available to subscribers.

According to the data, the NeXT Personal test demonstrated higher baseline sensitivity for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection compared to another gene-mutation based test. The test’s MRD status was identified as a strong prognosticator of clinical outcomes across all treatment arms in the trial.

The study also found that pre-surgical MRD negativity and clearance were associated with major pathological response. Additionally, osimertinib-containing regimens improved pre-surgical MRD clearance compared to placebo plus chemotherapy.

"This study from AstraZeneca shows that ultra-sensitive ctDNA detection enabled by NeXT Personal is critical for accurately assessing neoadjuvant treatment response," said Richard Chen, Chief Medical Officer and EVP of R&D at Personalis.

The NeoADAURA trial evaluated neoadjuvant osimertinib with or without chemotherapy versus placebo plus chemotherapy for patients with resectable EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

This collaboration builds on previous work with AstraZeneca, including a recent study showing the test detected traces of cancer DNA in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer up to approximately 16 months ahead of standard imaging.

Personalis recently submitted for Medicare coverage for its NeXT Personal liquid biopsy test for use in lung cancer patients, marking the third indication for which the company is seeking coverage.

The information in this article is based on a press release statement from Personalis. While the company generated $80.32 million in revenue over the last twelve months, analysts anticipate a sales decline in the current year. With analyst price targets ranging from $5 to $9, investors seeking detailed financial analysis and expert insights can access the full company profile on InvestingPro, which offers comprehensive coverage of over 1,400 US stocks.

In other recent news, Personalis Inc. reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings, showcasing a mixed financial performance. The company achieved an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.23, slightly surpassing the forecast of -$0.24. However, revenue did not meet expectations, coming in at $17.2 million compared to the anticipated $20.07 million, representing a 14.3% shortfall. Despite the revenue miss, Personalis shares experienced a modest increase in aftermarket trading. These developments highlight the ongoing financial challenges the company faces while also demonstrating a slight positive surprise in EPS. Investors and analysts are closely monitoring Personalis’ performance, especially given the revenue discrepancy. The company’s future financial health will likely be a focal point for stakeholders moving forward.

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