Myriad's Prolaris(R) Test Shown to Significantly Predict Prostate Cancer Outcome in Needle Biopsy Tissue

British Journal of Cancer Study Shows Prolaris Predicts Risk of Death From Prostate Cancer


SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:MYGN) announced today that a study published in the British Journal of Cancer demonstrated the prognostic ability of the Company's Prolaris test in needle biopsy material. The study entitled, "Prognostic Value of a Cell Cycle Progression Signature for Prostate Cancer Death in a Conservatively Managed Needle Biopsy Cohort," highlighted the ability of the test to significantly and accurately predict prostate cancer aggressiveness and consequent death from the disease.

"The Prolaris test offers men and healthcare providers a tool to make better-informed treatment decisions based on the aggressiveness of prostate cancer," said Jerry Lanchbury Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Myriad Genetics Inc. "We believe this test will provide critical information needed to avoid unnecessary and life altering morbidities associated with treating the disease in men who have a less aggressive form of prostate cancer."  

Researchers at the Queen Mary, University of London, and Myriad, analyzed the Prolaris Score of 349 prostate cancer patients who had been diagnosed by needle biopsy and managed conservatively. The authors concluded that the Prolaris test was the most significant predictor of disease aggressiveness and death, and may be a valuable tool in managing prostate cancer. Specifically, they found that the 81 percent of prostate cancer patients with lower Prolaris Scores when left untreated had an excellent five-year survival rate of 93 percent. Unfortunately, the probability of death from untreated prostate cancer increased significantly in men with high Prolaris Scores. In the 19 percent of prostate cancer patients with higher Prolaris Scores, the five-year survival rate was only 63 percent and the ten-year survival rate was 44 percent. 

In discussing the results of the study, the authors highlighted the unmet clinical need in this field, namely, the inability of current clinical parameters to distinguish men with a fast-growing form of prostate cancer who are appropriate for aggressive treatment, such as radical prostatectomy or radiation, from those with an indolent or less aggressive form who are candidates for active surveillance. The Prolaris test was developed to provide a solution for this significant unmet clinical need in an effort to provide patients and physicians with the ability to better predict disease outcome, thereby optimizing treatment and decision making. With this fourth clinical study, the Prolaris test has been shown, in a total of over 1450 patients, to consistently be a highly prognostic tool to assess the aggressiveness of a man's prostate cancer.

Cancer Research UK was involved in funding this research. 

About Myriad Genetics

Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:MYGN) is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to developing and marketing transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess a patient's risk of disease progression and disease recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of nine molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a focus on improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. With fiscal year 2011 annual revenue of over $400 million and more than 1,000 employees, Myriad is working on strategic directives, including new product introductions, companion diagnostics, and international expansion, to take advantage of significant growth opportunities. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: www.myriad.com

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, Melaris, TheraGuide, Prezeon, OnDose, Panexia and Prolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-G

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the ability of Myriad's Prolaris test to significantly and accurately predict prostate cancer aggressiveness and consequent death from the disease; the Company's belief that the Prolaris test will provide critical information needed to avoid unnecessary and life altering morbidities associated with treating the disease in men who have a less aggressive form of prostate cancer; and the ability of the Prolaris test to better predict disease outcome, thereby optimizing treatment and decision making; and the Company's strategic directives under the caption "About Myriad Genetics". These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that sales and profit margins of our existing molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services may decline or will not continue to increase at historical rates; the risk that we may be unable to expand into new markets outside of the United States; the risk that we may be unable to develop or achieve commercial success for additional molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that we may not successfully develop new markets for our molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services, including our ability to successfully generate revenue outside the United States; the risk that licenses to the technology underlying our molecular diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic services and any future products are terminated or cannot be maintained on satisfactory terms; risks related to delays or other problems with manufacturing our products or operating our laboratory testing facilities; risks related to public concern over genetic testing in general or our tests in particular; risks related to regulatory requirements or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries and changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; risks related to our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations and acquire new technologies or businesses on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks related to our ability to successfully integrate and derive benefits from any technologies or businesses that we acquire; the development of competing tests and services; the risk that we or our licensors may be unable to protect the proprietary technologies underlying our tests; the risk of patent-infringement and invalidity claims or challenges of our patents; risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law



            

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