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Natera Announces Randomized, Signatera™-Guided Interventional Study in Melanoma

The trial tests treatment escalation before progression appears on imaging, with progression-free survival as its primary endpoint.

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First patients enrolled in multi-center trial evaluating MRD-guided escalation for patients with advanced melanoma

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, today announced the enrollment of the first patients in a new Signatera-guided trial in melanoma (NCT07504796), sponsored by NYU Langone Health.

The study uses Signatera to guide treatment escalation for patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. The current standard of care for these patients is combination immunotherapy until clinical progression. This trial is designed to identify patients who may need earlier intervention by detecting persistent molecular residual disease (MRD) prior to radiographic progression.

After six weeks of first-line treatment (Nivolumab+Relatlimab), patients who are Signatera-positive without radiographic progression will be randomized into one of two different treatment arms: either continuation of first-line treatment until clinical progression; or intensification of first-line treatment with the addition of Ipilimumab. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival.

“This trial takes a more proactive therapeutic approach from the standard of care, which is to treat with immunotherapy until evidence of radiographic progression,” said Janice M. Mehnert, M.D., principal investigator of the study. “By using Signatera to identify patients who do not clear ctDNA early in the treatment regimen, we can act sooner to escalate therapies for those who need it as we aim to improve outcomes.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with NYU Langone Health on this important trial in melanoma,” said Michael Krainock, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, medical director, oncology, Natera. “By integrating Signatera into the trial design, we hope to improve patient selection for therapy escalation – distinguishing those who may be able to continue their current treatment without disease progression from others who need more intensified therapy. If the results are positive, this could be an important step toward changing clinical practice patterns in how we manage melanoma.”

About Natera

Natera is a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. We aim to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard-of-care to protect health and inform earlier, more targeted interventions that help lead to longer, healthier lives. Natera’s tests are supported by more than 400 peer-reviewed publications that demonstrate excellent performance. Natera operates ISO 13485-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in Austin, Texas, and San Carlos, California, and through Foresight Diagnostics, its subsidiary, operates an ISO 27001-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory certified under CLIA in Boulder, Colorado. For more information, visit www.natera.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and are not a representation that Natera’s plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent Natera’s expectations as of the date of this press release, and Natera disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including with respect to our efforts to develop and commercialize new product offerings, whether the results of clinical or other studies will support the use of our product offerings, the impact of results of such studies, our expectations of the reliability, accuracy, and performance of our tests, or of the benefits of our tests and product offerings to patients, providers, and payers. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in "Risk Factors" in Natera’s recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and in other filings Natera makes with the SEC from time to time. These documents are available at www.natera.com/investors and www.sec.gov.

Investor Relations: Mike Brophy, CFO, Natera, Inc., investor@natera.com
Media: Lesley Bogdanow, VP of Corporate Communications, Natera, Inc., pr@natera.com

Source: Natera, Inc.

Key Terms

molecular residual disease medical
Molecular residual disease is the tiny amount of cancer that can remain in the body after treatment and is detectable only by sensitive tests that find cancer DNA or other molecular traces. It matters to investors because these measurements can predict relapse, guide whether additional therapy is needed, and shape the market for diagnostics and drugs—much like finding embers after a fire helps decide if more firefighting is required.
ctdna medical
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is tiny fragments of genetic material shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream, like breadcrumbs that can reveal a tumor’s presence and genetic makeup without needing a biopsy. For investors, ctDNA matters because tests and technologies that detect and analyze these fragments can speed diagnosis, track treatment response, and signal relapse, creating commercial opportunities in diagnostics, personalized therapies, and monitoring services.
progression-free survival medical
Progression-free survival is the length of time during and after a treatment that a patient's disease does not get worse, measured from the start of treatment until the disease shows measurable signs of progression or the patient dies. Investors care because longer progression-free survival in clinical trials often signals that a drug is effective, improving chances of regulatory approval, market adoption, and revenue potential—think of it as a stopwatch showing how long a therapy can keep the illness at bay.

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