Genetic Technologies Limited (ASX:GTG, NASDAQ:GENE, OTC:GNTLF) confirms that its expanded geneType Multi-Risk Test, to include three new diseases — pancreatic cancer, melanoma and atrial fibrillation — is now available to order in Australia, following the launch of the expanded test in the US in March.
The geneType Multi-Risk Test now performs a total of nine individual serious disease risk assessments, all from the one simple saliva sample and caters for people of most ethnicities over the age of 30.
Granting of this approval by National Association of Testing Authority (NATA) follows the approval in March this year by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) to sell the expanded panel in the USA.
Genetic Technologies CEO Simon Morriss said, “Obtaining approval to sell the expanded version of Multitest in Australia highlights GTG’s ability to deliver on our commitment to being a world leader in delivering personalised risk assessments to enable preventative healthcare for a range of serious diseases.”
Testing for three more diseases
The geneType Multi-Risk assessment panel focuses on oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes and coronary artery disease. Atrial fibrillation, melanoma and pancreatic cancer have now been added to that list.
Each of the new diseases recently approved cause significant mortality and morbidity. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2023 there will be approximately 10,639 new cases of melanoma, Australia’s third most diagnosed cancer.
The estimates for pancreatic cancer are even more dire, in Australia in 2023 it is estimated that 2,355 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and a staggering 87% of these people will die. In both cases, identifying people at increased risk provides an opportunity for early diagnosis and early intervention, leading to a significant improvement in patient outcomes, extending life expectancy, and saving lives.
In the case of atrial fibrillation (AFib), surveys and studies on sections of the Australian population suggest that AFib affects approximately 2% of the general population, equivalent to more than 500,000 people.