SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) announced today that a study published in the British Journal of Cancer demonstrated the ability of the Company's Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) Assay to detect loss of DNA repair in ovarian tumors. The study, entitled, "Patterns of Genomic Loss of Heterozygosity Predict Homologous Recombination Repair Defects in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer," confirmed, with highly statistically significant results, the relationship between Myriad's HRD score and tumors deficient in DNA repair.

"By measuring the HRD score in tumor samples we expect to be able to predict patient response to therapeutic agents that exploit deficiencies in DNA repair," said Jerry Lanchbury Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Myriad Genetics Inc. "Through this best-in-class test we intend to provide patients and their healthcare providers with critical information regarding response to platinum drugs or PARP inhibitors across multiple cancers including breast, ovarian and other cancers."

Researchers at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, University of Pittsburgh, University of British Colombia, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Myriad Genetics generated HRD scores in 639 ovarian tumor samples as well as 57 breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines. The data demonstrated that a high HRD score is highly correlated (p = 1.0 x 10-48) with tumor deficiency in DNA repair.

Hereditary and somatic defects in genes that support homologous recombination have been implicated in predisposition to a variety of cancers. BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations and other HR defects have potential therapeutic relevance when used to direct the use of therapeutics that introduce or exploit double-stranded DNA breaks. Myriad's HRD score could be utilized to identify patients with a variety of cancers who have a high likelihood of responding to DNA damaging agents such as the platinum drugs, as well as PARP inhibitors.

About Myriad Genetics

Myriad Genetics is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to making a difference in patients' lives through the discovery and commercialization of transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess risk of disease progression and recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a commitment to improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. Myriad is focused on strategic directives to introduce new products, including companion diagnostics, as well as expanding internationally. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, Melaris, TheraGuide, Prezeon, OnDose, Panexia and Prolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-G

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the Company's expectation to be able to predict patient response to therapeutic agents that exploit deficiencies in DNA repair by measuring the HRD score in tumor samples; the Company's intent to provide patients and their healthcare providers with critical information regarding response to platinum drugs or PARP inhibitors across multiple cancers including breast, ovarian and other cancers; the utility of the Company's HRD score to identify patients with a variety of cancers who have a high likelihood of responding to DNA damaging agents such as the platinum drugs, as well as PARP inhibitors; the potential therapeutic relevance of BRCA1 or BRCA2 and other HR defects to direct the use of therapeutics that introduce or exploit double-stranded DNA breaks; and and the Company's strategic directives under the caption "About Myriad Genetics". These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that sales and profit margins of our existing molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services may decline or will not continue to increase at historical rates; the risk that we may be unable to develop or achieve commercial success for additional molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that we may not successfully develop new markets for our molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services, including our ability to successfully generate revenue outside the United States; the risk that licenses to the technology underlying our molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services and any future products are terminated or cannot be maintained on satisfactory terms; risks related to delays or other problems with manufacturing our products or operating our laboratory testing facilities; risks related to public concern over genetic testing in general or our tests in particular; risks related to regulatory requirements or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries and changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; risks related to our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations or licenses and acquire new technologies or businesses on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks related to our ability to successfully integrate and derive benefits from any technologies or businesses that we license or acquire; the development of competing tests and services; the risk that we or our licensors may be unable to protect the proprietary technologies underlying our tests; the risk of patent-infringement and invalidity claims or challenges of our patents; risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

Originally posted here:
Myriad's HRD Score Detects Loss of DNA Repair Function in Ovarian Cancer

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