New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics Inc. DGX, a pioneer in diagnostic information services, has launched its first whole exome sequencing assay service – Neurome – a test that facilitates the diagnosis of rare neurological disorders which primarily affects pediatric patients.
Neurome is a lab-developed test, developed and validated by Personalis – a leading CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited diagnostic information services provider, exclusively for Athena Diagnostics. Athena Diagnostics serves as Quest Diagnostics' genetic testing business for neurological disorders.
Most of the patients suffering from genetic neurological disorders show symptoms of the disease at an early age, but diagnosis of the same is difficult utilizing current testing procedures. Statistically, taking into account variations based on disease and population, as many as 8% of individuals are diagnosed with genetic disorders before attaining adulthood.
The Neurome test thus primarily focuses on the pediatric patient population and helps in identifying the genetic basis of mostly unidentified neurological disorders with a suspected genetic cause, such as some forms of developmental delay, epilepsy and muscular dystrophy.
Being established on Personalis' proprietary ACE Exome Technology, Neurome specifically interrogates only those areas of the genome that affect the nervous system.
The whole exome sequencing outcome has the ability to benefit patient management through disease prognosis, suitable family planning and medication choices. This validates the need of a reliable and actionable diagnostic like Neurome.
At the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Conference in Sep 2014, Personalis had presented data that demonstrated 57% detection rate for 47 gene variants by applying its ACE Exome method in 83 patient specimens. This compares favorably with 25% detection rate in a study of 504 patients by an alternative whole exome sequencing method.
Management at Quest Diagnostics believes that the diagnostic yield of Neurome will exceed that of the contemporary exome assays buoyed by its technical and clinical focus on neurological conditions.
Athena Diagnostics will showcase Neurome at the 67th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting to be held from April 18–25 in Washington, D.C.
In professional lab services business, Quest Diagnostics has implemented 6 new relationships in 2014 which are on track to deliver $40 million in annualized revenues. We are also upbeat about the fact that over the three consecutive quarters, the company has seen improvement in gene-based and esoteric testing.
We believe this recent addition to the company's existing menu of next-generation sequencing services will help it fetch higher profits from testing services, in the quarters ahead.
Currently, the stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other top-ranked medical stocks include Almost Family Inc. AFAM, Chemed Corp. CHE and LHC Group, Inc. LHCG. All these stocks hold a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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