Veracyte Announces Sponsorship of the Climb to Fight Cancer’s Team Kilimanjaro Expedition

The Climb to Fight Cancer’s Team Kilimanjaro expedition is organized and led by Luke Timmerman, founder and editor of the Timmerman Report, a leading biotechnology newsletter. Team Kilimanjaro’s goal is to raise $1 million for lifesaving cancer research at Fred Hutch. To date, the climbers and sponsors have raised more than $620,000. Ken Brunt, Veracyte’s vice president of operations, will participate in the climb to support Veracyte’s fundraising efforts.

“Veracyte is proud to support Team Kilimanjaro and participate in this climb with an industrywide team that is working together to fight cancer,” said Bonnie Anderson, Veracyte’s chairman and chief executive officer. “The team’s ambitious, but attainable goal aligns with our expanded efforts to fight cancer, including the early detection of lung cancer when treatment is possible.”

Veracyte recently announced a collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation that will accelerate the company’s efforts in developing novel diagnostic tests in lung cancer, including the first nasal swab test for early detection.

“The Climb to Fight Cancer’s Mt. Kilimanjaro expedition provides an opportunity for biotech executives and investors to support cancer research in a significant way,” said Luke Timmerman. “Reaching the summit of a major peak requires determination, resilience and teamwork. These are some of the same qualities it takes to make progress against an adversary like cancer. I’m thankful that Veracyte is supporting our team and this cause, which resonates with the deep personal and professional aspirations of so many in the biotech community.”

Since 1997, Fred Hutch’s Climb to Fight Cancer has hosted climbs across the world in honor of those who have battled cancer while raising funds and awareness toward finding a cure. To date, climbers have raised more than $9 million to fund critical research at Fred Hutch. This includes Luke Timmerman’s 2018 summit of Mount Everest, which raised $340,000 for the organization.

“Mountaineers have been supporting Fred Hutch through Climb to Fight Cancer for more than 20 years,” said Kelly O’Brien, vice president of philanthropy at Fred Hutch. “We are honored that people all over the U.S. are volunteering and donating to help cure cancer. The expedition is an ambitious campaign that represents the hope and inspiration we all believe is possible through cancer research, and we are proud to partner with Veracyte in this endeavor. Veracyte’s leadership through its sponsorship and participation in Team Kilimanjaro are incredible examples of their commitment to helping cancer patients and finding cures.”

To learn more about Team Kilimanjaro and their expedition, please visit here. To support Ken Brunt’s climb, visit his personal page here.

About Veracyte

Veracyte (Nasdaq: VCYT) is a leading genomic diagnostics company that improves patient care by providing trustworthy and actionable answers to challenging clinical questions. The company’s products are developing by uniquely combining advanced genomic technology, clinical science and machine learning to provide answers that give physicians and patients a clear path forward, informing both diagnosis and treatment decisions without the need for costly, risky surgeries that are often unnecessary. Since its founding in 2008, Veracyte has commercialized three genomic tests, which are transforming the diagnosis of thyroid cancer, lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Veracyte is based in South San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.veracyte.com and follow the company on Twitter (@veracyte).

About Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutch’s pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nation’s first National Cancer Institute-funded cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women’s Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “may,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, the ability of Veracyte’s Afirma Xpression Atlas to help characterize medullary thyroid cancer, the ability of Veracyte’s Afirma GSC to identify Hürthle cells, the expected impacts of Veracyte’s collaboration with Johnson & Johnson in developing interventions for lung cancer, on Veracyte’s financial and operating results, on the timing of the commercialization of the Percepta classifier, and on the size of Veracyte’s addressable market. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance, but are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from our predictions, and include, but are not limited to: our ability to achieve milestones under the collaboration agreement with Johnson & Johnson; our ability to achieve and maintain Medicare coverage for our tests; the benefits of our tests and the applicability of clinical results to actual outcomes; the laws and regulations applicable to our business, including potential regulation by the Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory bodies; our ability to successfully achieve and maintain adoption of and reimbursement for our products; the amount by which use of our products are able to reduce invasive procedures and misdiagnosis, and reduce healthcare costs; the occurrence and outcomes of clinical studies; and other risks set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and Veracyte specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or reasons why actual results might differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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