Good Start Genetics, Inc.’ Cost Effectiveness Study Demonstrates Clinical Outcomes And Healthcare Cost Advantages

Carrier screening based on next-generation sequencing shown to reduce affected births, create more life-years, and decrease annual and lifetime treatment costs

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Good Start Genetics® Inc., a commercial-stage molecular genetics information company with best-in-class next-generation sequencing (NGS) capabilities, today announced the publication of a new study in Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine suggesting that carrier screening utilizing the company’s NGS leads to better health outcomes and is the most cost-effective screening strategy when compared to traditional screening approaches or to not screening at all. The study, conducted by Evidera and entitled “Carrier screening by next-generation sequencing: health benefits and cost-effectiveness,” found that decreases in lifetime treatment costs using NGS could be as high as 66 percent when compared to no screening, and 12 percent when compared to traditional genotyping-based carrier screens. The publication can be accessed here.

“Carrier screening by next-generation sequencing: health benefits and cost-effectiveness”

“Good Start Genetics’ NGS-based carrier screening allows couples, along with their healthcare providers, to make the most informed decisions prior to pregnancy,” said Don Hardison, president and chief executive officer of Good Start Genetics. “We believe health plans will also benefit from NGS-based carrier screening as it can lower disease incidence and lead to significant cost savings. We are proud to have been the first company to offer NGS-based carrier screening in a clinical setting, and we are excited to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness advantages of our approach in a peer-reviewed journal.”

The cost savings demonstrated in the study can be attributed to the in-depth approach of NGS, as employed in Good Start Genetics’ GeneVu carrier screening test. GeneVu differs from traditional testing as it provides high carrier detection rates for the most prevalent and guideline-recommended genetic disorders. When compared to no screening, carrier screening by traditional genotyping, and other technologies applied to look for fewer disease-causing mutations, the study found that NGS-based carrier screening averts more affected births, creates more life-years gained and reduces annual and lifetime treatments costs.

The publication describes a robust and comprehensive decision tree model of 1,000,000 couples representative of the United States population. Data from published literature, population surveys, and expert opinion were used to capture and reflect a complex network of medical decisions and outcomes related to carrier screening and reproductive health. The model took into account direct medical costs such as screening, diagnosis and treatment costs associated with three broad health outcomes categories: birth of a child born without a disorder, birth of a child born with a disorder, and other instances where couples decide not to conceive, pursue adoption, or undergo more refined testing or procedures.

Article Details
“Carrier screening by next-generation sequencing: health benefits and cost effectiveness” by Azimi, M., Schmaus, K., Greger, V., Neitzel, D., Rochelle, R. and Dinh, T (DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.204). Published online (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mgg3.204/full) for Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine (January 2016)

About Evidera
Evidera, a wholly owned subsidiary of Symphony Technology Group, provides health economic, outcomes research, market access, data analytic and epidemiology services to life sciences organizations worldwide. For more information, visit www.evidera.com.

About Good Start Genetics®, Inc.
Good Start Genetics is a molecular genetics information company transforming the standard of care in reproductive and family medicine. Its suite of reproductive genetics products provides clinicians and patients with insightful and actionable information in order to promote successful pregnancies and healthy families. Its flagship genetic carrier screening service, GeneVu™, is a comprehensive menu of highly-accurate tests for known and novel mutations that cause inherited genetic disorders, and its advanced preimplantation genetic screening test, EmbryVu™, is helping a wider range of couples find their paths to pregnancy at significantly lower costs. Good Start Genetics complements these tests and its proprietary next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) capabilities with world-class customer care and thoughtful genetic counseling to help families prepare for tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.goodstartgenetics.com or join us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.