OPKO’S GeneDx Extends Relationship with University of California Health for Genetic and Molecular Testing
OPKO Helps Expand UC Health’s leadership at the forefront of precision medicine
MIAMI, June 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OPKO Health, Inc. (Nasdaq:OPK) announced today that GeneDx, a business unit of OPKO’s BioReference Laboratories division, extended its relationship with the University of California Health (UC Health) for genetic, genomic, and molecular testing services. UC Health, one of the nation’s leaders in genomics and precision medicine in both the clinical and investigational arenas, has selected GeneDx to supplement UC Health’s own robust offering of genetic, genomic, and molecular testing services. By having access to the latest in next generation genetics and molecular oncology resources, both internally and externally, UC Health remains at the forefront of precision medicine. OPKO’s GeneDx is a leading commercial genetics laboratory in the United States, while OPKO’s GenPath Oncology division was among the first in the nation to focus on the molecular understanding of cancer.
“The foundation of precision medicine is precision diagnostics, and through this relationship with OPKO’s GeneDx, our customers at UC Health will not just better understand disease, but will close the gap between data and diagnosis to help ensure good outcomes for individuals and their communities,” said Gregory S. Henderson, MD, PhD, President of BioReference Laboratories. “UC Health already provides some of the best thinking in the country on the use of diagnostic tools in clinical genomics and precision medicine. Whole Exome Sequencing and other clinical services offered by GeneDx will give UC Health’s world class doctors, genetic counselors and other clinicians actionable insight into some of the most pressing health challenges faced by their patients and could expand the potential for their research to produce good outcomes.”
GeneDx offers UC Health unique tools for understanding cancer, rare diseases, prenatal conditions, and some of the most difficult problems in medical diagnosis through a comprehensive menu of genetic and genomic tests that will supplement UC Health’s testing infrastructure across its medical centers at the UC Health campuses. An important differentiator is GeneDx’s advanced analytic tools, which not only provide the highest level of genetic testing, but also the technology to add insight to the findings. GeneDx has developed a unique, clinician focused population health tool that allows end users to better manage and track their data at a cohort or individual level in a protected and compliant manner.
About the University of California
Founded in 1868, the University of California is a public university system that is considered the most comprehensive and advanced postsecondary educational system in the world. UC comprises ten college campuses and five medical centers with more than 238,000 students. For more information, visit https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/uc-system.
About GeneDx
GeneDx is a world leader in genomics with an acknowledged expertise in rare and ultra rare genetic disorders, as well as one of the broadest menus of sequencing services available among commercial laboratories. Providing testing to patients and their families in more than 55 countries, GeneDx is a business unit of BioReference Laboratories, a wholly owned subsidiary of OPKO Health, Inc. To learn more, please visit www.genedx.com.
About OPKO Health, Inc.
OPKO Health is a diversified healthcare company that seeks to establish industry leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets. Our diagnostics business includes Bio-Reference Laboratories, the nation's third-largest clinical laboratory with a core genetic testing business and a 400-person sales and marketing team to drive growth and leverage new products, including the 4Kscore® prostate cancer test and the Claros® 1 in-office immunoassay platform. Our pharmaceutical business features RAYALDEE, an FDA-approved treatment for SHPT in stage 3-4 CKD patients with vitamin D insufficiency (launched in November 2016), VARUBI™ for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (oral formulation launched by partner TESARO and IV formulation pending FDA approval), OPK88003, a once or twice weekly oxyntomodulin for type 2 diabetes and obesity which is a clinically advanced drug candidate among the new class of GLP-1 glucagon receptor dual agonists, OPK88004, a SARM (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator) for treating BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy), OPK88002, a NK-1 antagonist to treat pruritus ( itching) in dialysis patients, and OPK88001, a proprietary oligonucleotide to treat Dravet syndrome. In addition, the Company is advancing its CTP technology, which includes long acting hGH-CTP, a once weekly human growth hormone injection (in phase 3 and partnered with Pfizer), and long acting Factor VIIa drug for hemophilia in phase 2a. OPKO also has production and distribution assets worldwide, multiple strategic investments and an active business development strategy. More information available at www.opko.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding the expected expansion of our relationship with the University of California Health (UC Health) for genetic, genomic, and molecular testing services, expected benefits from the relationship and the ability to close the gap between data and diagnosis to help ensure good outcomes for individuals, as well as other non-historical statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our business, technologies and products, financial condition, strategies or prospects. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the risks inherent in funding, developing and obtaining regulatory approvals of new, commercially-viable and competitive products and treatments. In addition, forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, the regulatory process for new products and indications, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.
Contacts: GeneDx Victoria L. Laughman, 480-599-0954 vlaughman@genedx.com Or OPKO Health, Inc. David Malina, 305-575-4137 DMalina@opko.com Investor Relations Or Media Rooney Partners Terry Rooney, 212-223-0689 trooney@rooneyco.com or Marion Janic, 212-223-4017 mjanic@rooneyco.com or Investors LHA Investor Relations Anne Marie Fields, 212-838-3777 afields@lhai.com or Bruce Voss, 310-691-7100 bvoss@lhai.com
Released June 7, 2017