Support Reinforces Company’s Commitment to Tackling This Deadly
Disease
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Veracyte,
Inc. (Nasdaq: VCYT), a leading genomics diagnostics company, today
announced its “Summit” level sponsorship of the Climb to Fight Cancer’s
Team Kilimanjaro expedition as part of the company’s expanded efforts to
combat this disease. Through its sponsorship, the company is supporting
“Team Kilimanjaro,” a group of biotechnology executives and investors
that will climb Africa’s highest peak in late July 2019 to raise money
for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
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.
Veracyte, Afirma, Percepta, Envisia and the Veracyte logo are trademarks
of Veracyte, Inc.
Contacts
Investor and Media Contact:
Angie
McCabe
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
650-243-6371
angie@veracyte.com