/C O R R E C T I O N -- BillionToOne/
Rhea-AI Summary
BillionToOne (Nasdaq: BLLN) reported publication in The Green Journal of a prospective, multi-site study evaluating its Unity Fetal Risk Screen cfDNA test for recessive conditions in a large, general-risk pregnancy population.
The nine-center U.S. study followed 2,212 pregnant carriers whose partners’ carrier status was unknown, with outcomes collected for 98.6% of pregnancies completing care. Unity Fetal Risk Screen assessed fetal risk for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and alpha- and beta-hemoglobinopathies, demonstrating 94.4% sensitivity, 99.5% specificity, and >99.9% negative predictive value. According to BillionToOne, traditional carrier screening classifies fewer than 50% of affected pregnancies as high risk, largely due to incomplete partner testing, while Unity directly estimates fetal risk, providing personalized probabilities from as high as 9-in-10 to as low as 1 in 10,000. Performance was consistent across racially and ethnically diverse groups, and the test is part of the Unity Complete prenatal portfolio, which the company is expanding with a new 130-gene fetal risk panel.
Positive
- Prospective study in 2,212 carriers across nine U.S. institutions with 98.6% outcome ascertainment
- Unity Fetal Risk Screen sensitivity 94.4% for targeted recessive conditions in general-risk pregnancies
- Specificity 99.5% and negative predictive value >99.9% for the cfDNA fetal risk assay
- Higher affected-pregnancy classification than traditional carrier screening, which flags fewer than 50% as high risk
- Consistent performance in diverse populations, supporting broader and more equitable prenatal screening access
- Portfolio expansion to a 130-gene panel, signaling continued investment in comprehensive prenatal screening
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 05 | Earnings report | Positive | -38.9% | Q2 revenue growth, profitability, and reiterated 2026 revenue guidance |
| Jul 20 | Leadership change | Positive | -4.0% | Oncology chief medical officer appointed to lead Northstar medical strategy |
| Jul 15 | Earnings scheduling | Neutral | +4.0% | Company scheduled release of second-quarter financial results |
| Jun 29 | Clinical data | Positive | +1.9% | Northstar Response showed stronger survival prediction than standard imaging |
| May 27 | Conference participation | Neutral | +7.5% | Management announced participation in William Blair growth stock conference |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Positive announcements showed mixed reactions, including a -38.89% response to the prior earnings release despite reported growth and reiterated guidance.
Key Terms
cfdna medical
nipt medical
negative predictive value medical
hemoglobinopathies medical
aneuploidy screening medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
In the news release, Largest Prospective Study in General-Risk Pregnancies Strengthens Evidence for cfDNA Fetal Risk Assessment as a Primary Screen for Recessive Conditions, issued 18-Aug-2026 by BillionToOne over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:
Largest Prospective Study in General-Risk Pregnancies Strengthens Evidence for cfDNA Fetal Risk Assessment as a Primary Screen for Recessive Conditions
Study of more than 2,200 pregnant carriers demonstrates strong clinical performance in the intended-use, general-risk population, with outcomes available for more than
Conducted across nine
Traditional carrier screening depends on partner testing to determine fetal risk, but partner follow-up is often incomplete, delayed, or unavailable due to logistical, financial, and access barriers1. Unity Fetal Risk Screen demonstrated
In addition to excellent sensitivity, the assay demonstrated
"Multi-center studies with this level of outcome completeness are rare in prenatal screening," said Eliza McElwee, MD, Assistant Professor College of Medicine Department Obstetrics Gynecology at Medical University of
The study also demonstrated consistent performance across a racially and ethnically diverse population, supporting equitable access to prenatal genetic screening without the need for partner testing. Researchers point to the growing urgency of early detection, as new therapies show that earlier diagnosis can meaningfully change outcomes for affected children.
"This publication shows that carrier screening with cfDNA fetal risk assessment performs reliably in the general-risk population, not just in a research setting," said Haywood Brown, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Prenatal at BillionToOne. "For patients, that means a high-risk pregnancy is far less likely to be missed simply because a partner sample was never collected."
Unity Fetal Risk Screen is part of BillionToOne's Unity Complete® prenatal screening portfolio, combining carrier screening, cfDNA-based fetal risk assessment, and aneuploidy screening to deliver prenatal genetic information from a single maternal blood draw via the company's proprietary Quantitative Counting Template™ (QCT™) technology. The publication follows BillionToOne's recent announcement that it is expanding its fetal risk screen portfolio to include a new 130-gene panel, reflecting the company's continued investment in advancing comprehensive prenatal screening and fetal risk assessment.
About BillionToOne
Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, BillionToOne is a next-generation molecular diagnostics company with a mission to create powerful and accurate tests that are accessible to all. The company's proprietary single-molecule next-generation sequencing (smNGS) platform is the only multiplex technology that can detect and precisely quantify genetic targets at the physical limit of detection, down to the single DNA molecule. Enabled by Quantitative Counting Templates™ (QCTs™), the platform quantifies disease-related DNA fragments with single base-pair resolution, providing absolute quantification. For more information, visit www.billiontoone.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding incorporation of cfDNA fetal risk assessment into routine carrier screening. These statements are based on management's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond BillionToOne's control. These and additional risks and uncertainties could affect BillionToOne's financial and operating results and cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" and elsewhere in BillionToOne's Annual Report on Form 10-K, BillionToOne's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to BillionToOne as of the date hereof, and BillionToOne disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing BillionToOne's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Media Contact
1 Giles Choates M, Stevens BK, Wagner C, Murphy L, Singletary CN, Wittman AT. It takes two: uptake of carrier screening among male reproductive partners. Prenat Diagn. 2020 Feb;40(3):311-316. doi: 10.1002/pd.5588. Epub 2019 Dec 2. PMID: 31793013.
Correction: A hyperlink has been added in the 1st paragraph.
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SOURCE BillionToOne