At the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, a study published in the “Journal of Clinical Oncology” says that genetic testing in newborns greatly reduces mortality associated with pediatric cancers

• The authors developed the Precision Medicine and Precision Treatment (PreEMPT) model targeting six genes associated with early-onset childhood cancers, including RET, RB1, TP53, DICER1, SUFU, and SMARCB1.
• myNewbornDNA from Veritas Intercontinental allows the detection of pathogenic variants related to different types of pediatric cancer. The test, by sequencing the entire exome, analyzes and interprets the six genes mentioned above, along with 12 other genes, also related to childhood cancer. In addition, myNewbornDNA provides the analysis and clinical interpretation of 407 genes related to more than 390 early-onset actionable diseases.
• In the BabySEQ project, more than 9% of the newborns studied had variants in their genome related to diseases that appeared in the first years of life.

According to a study published by the Journal of Oncology, part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO, genetic tests in newborns reduce the mortality associated with pediatric cancers. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of genetic sequencing in the prevention, treatment and survival against childhood cancer.

The authors developed the Precision Medicine and Precision Treatment (PreEMPT) model targeting six genes associated with early-onset childhood cancers, including RET, RB1, TP53, DICER1, SUFU, and SMARCB1.

Neonates with mutations in any of the six genes underwent cancer surveillance according to established guidelines for each pediatric disease associated with the genes. The results confirmed improvements in survival, reduced disease development, cancer deaths, and treatment-related late mortality risks.

myNewbornDNA, a neonatal genetic screening test, based on whole exome sequencing, developed by Veritas Intercontinental, analyzes the presence of some pathogenic variants related to early-onset actionable diseases, including different types of pediatric cancer, favoring an early diagnosis, enabling preventive actions and improving the prognosis of affected babies. The test includes the analysis of 407 genes related to genetic and metabolic diseases that appear in the first years of life including 18 genes directly related to childhood cancer. The test can be performed from a saliva sample or cord blood, it includes a complete results report, with detailed information on the detected variants and their implication for the newborn. We also offer genetic consultation  to the healthcare specialist for a better management and therapeutic approach to the information obtained.

 myNewbornDNA much more than the heel prick test

Currently in Spain, after the birth of a baby, a biochemical screening – heel test – of the most frequent metabolopathies is performed. Its early detection allows starting treatment to avoid or minimize the severity of the disease. This test, based on the CCAA, allows detecting between 5 and 20 metabolic diseases.

“MyNewbornDNA -explains Dr. Luis Izquierdo, medical director of Veritas Int.- is a perfect complement to conventional biochemical screening, since it offers much more exhaustive and precise information, which allows defining effective health strategies for identified conditions ”.

 Typology of myNewbornDNA diseases

myNewbornDNA allows for the identification of pathogenic variants and associated genetic diseases. Diseases are categorized into different areas:

• Highly actionable diseases that appear during childhood.
• Actionable diseases that appear during childhood with a high prevalence.
• Adult-onset diseases that can be acted upon during childhood, greatly improving the prognosis of these patients.
• Additional confirmation for well-defined diseases included in the heel prick test.

The Exome

While most genetic tests are focus on a single gene or predetermined genes, the whole exome sequencing test sequences thousands of genes simultaneously (+19,000 genes).

“MyNewbornDNA -says Dr. Luis Izquierdo- allows in a single test a large number of diseases that can affect the health of the newborn and offers enormously valuable information to prevent the development of the disease or to approach its treatment in a very comprehensive and more efficient way “.

 About Veritas Intercontinental

Veritas Intercontinental operates in Europe, Latin America, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. Its mission is to promote the whole genome sequencing, changing the way the world conceives genetics, allowing people to obtain information to maximize the quality and duration of their lives.

Veritas was the first company to offer full-scale of the whole genome sequencing and its interpretation, and with its physicians, leads the field of genetics, pushing the boundaries of science with the most innovative technology to reduce the cost of the genome.

Veritas was founded in 2014 by genomics experts from the world-renowned Harvard Medical School, operating worldwide from its offices in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and China. The company has been recognized by MIT Technology Review as one of the 50 Smartest Companies in 2016 and 2017, by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative healthcare companies in 2018, and by CNBC as one of the Disruptor 50 companies in 2018 and 2019.

In 2018, a leading group of genetics experts founded Veritas Intercontinental expanding Veritas technology to the international market and developing key new precision personalized medicine products.