SEATTLE, May 14, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoString Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSTG), a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced that Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) that assesses molecular diagnostic technologies through its MolDx program, has issued a favorable draft local coverage determination (LCD) for the Prosigna Breast Cancer Assay.
“We are encouraged by the draft Local Coverage Determination published today by Palmetto’s MolDx team,” said Brad Gray, President and Chief Executive Officer of NanoString Technologies. “We are continuing to make progress toward our vision of ensuring that U.S. breast cancer patients have access to the best diagnostic technology, and this progress builds on the momentum of Prosigna’s recent inclusion in the St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Guidelines.”
The draft LCD, which proposes the coverage policy for Medicare beneficiaries, includes reimbursement coverage for postmenopausal patients with ER+, lymph node-negative, stage I or II breast cancer; and ER+, lymph node-positive (1-3 positive nodes), stage II breast cancer. The draft LCD is posted to the Medicare Coverage Database on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website at: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/lcd-details.aspx?LCDId=36124&ContrId=225&ver=5&ContrVer=1&Cntrctr=All&UpdatePeriod=624&bc=AQAAEAAAAAAAAA%3d%3d&.
Under Medicare rules, the draft LCD is subject to a minimum 45-day public comment period, which will begin on June 9th and end on July 24th. After the public comment period, Palmetto GBA will review public comments and finalize the draft coverage policy. When finalized and published, the decision becomes effective after a minimum notification period of 45 days. The draft LCD applies to the J11 jurisdiction, comprising North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Other Medicare jurisdictions participating in the MolDx program may choose to adopt the same coverage policy.
About the Prosigna® Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay and nCounter® Dx Analysis System ?
The Prosigna Assay provides a risk category and numerical score for assessment of the risk of distant recurrence of disease at 10 years in postmenopausal women with node-negative (Stage I or II) or node-positive (Stage II), hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. Based on the PAM50 gene signature initially discovered by Charles Perou, Ph.D. and colleagues, the Prosigna Assay is an in vitro diagnostic tool that utilizes gene expression data weighted together with clinical variables to generate a risk category and numerical score to assess a patient’s risk of distant recurrence of disease. The Prosigna Assay measures gene expression levels of RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) breast tumor tissue previously diagnosed as invasive breast carcinoma. ??
The Prosigna Assay requires minimal hands-on time and runs on NanoString’s proprietary nCounter® Dx Analysis System, which offers a reproducible and cost-effective way to profile many genes simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision.?
The nCounter Dx Analysis System is a highly automated and easy-to-use platform that utilizes a novel digital barcoding chemistry to deliver high precision multiplexed assays. The system is available in the multi-mode FLEX configuration, which is designed to meet the needs of high-complexity clinical laboratories seeking a single platform with the flexibility to run the Prosigna Breast Cancer Assay and, when operated in the “Life Sciences” mode, process translational research experiments and multiplexed assays developed by the laboratory.
In the United States, the Prosigna Assay is available for diagnostic use when ordered by a physician. The Prosigna Assay has been CE-marked and is available for use by healthcare professionals in the European Union and other countries that recognize the CE Mark, as well as Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
In the U.S., the Prosigna Assay is indicated in female breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery in conjunction with locoregional treatment consistent with standard of care, either as:
(1) a prognostic indicator for distant recurrence-free survival at 10 years in postmenopausal women with Hormone Receptor-Positive (HR+), lymph node-negative, Stage I or II breast cancer to be treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy alone, when used in conjunction with other clinicopathological factors or (2) a prognostic indicator for distant recurrence-free survival at 10 years in postmenopausal women with Hormone Receptor-Positive (HR+), lymph node-positive (1-3 nodes), Stage II breast cancer to be treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy alone, when used in conjunction with other clinicopathological factors. The device is not intended for patients with four or more positive nodes.
For more information, please visit www.prosigna.com.
About NanoString Technologies, Inc.
NanoString Technologies provides life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products. The company’s nCounter Analysis System has been employed in life sciences research since it was first introduced in 2008 and has been cited in over 700 peer-reviewed publications. The nCounter Analysis System offers a cost-effective way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, proteins, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision, facilitating a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. The company’s technology has also been applied to diagnostic use. The Prosigna Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay together with the nCounter Dx Analysis System is FDA 510(k) cleared for use as a prognostic indicator for distant recurrence of breast cancer.
For more information, please visit www.nanostring.com.
The NanoString Technologies logo, NanoString, NanoString Technologies, nCounter, and Prosigna are registered trademarks or trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc. in various jurisdictions.
CONTACT: Leigh Salvo of Westwicke Partners leigh.salvo@westwicke.com 415-513-1281
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
