Invitae announces new partnership with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to provide TTR gene testing for patients suspected of having hereditary ATTR amyloidosis

SAN FRANCISCO, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA), one of the fastest growing genetic information companies, has announced a program in partnership with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, the leading RNAi therapeutics company, to provide genetic testing for hereditary ATTR (hATTR) amyloidosis, a rare, progressive and life-threatening disease caused by a mutation in the TTR gene which causes accumulation of misfolded proteins in nerves and cells of other organs.

The Alnylam Act™ program is aimed at encouraging early genetic testing to aid in the prompt genetic diagnosis of patients with hATTR amyloidosis. Genetic testing determines whether a patient is a carrier of a mutation in the TTR gene, thereby confirming an hATTR amyloidosis diagnosis and guiding clinical decision-making.

"Genetic testing is essential for the diagnosis of hATTR to differentiate the disease from other forms of amyloidosis. Accurate diagnosis guides clinical decisions for these patients who have limited treatment options," said Pritesh Gandhi, vice president of medical affairs of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. "We are very pleased to be working with Invitae on this important program to help connect patients to genetic testing sooner in the diagnostic process."

As part of The Alnylam Act™ program, patients in the U.S. with a suspected diagnosis or a confirmed family history of hATTR amyloidosis in the U.S. are eligible to receive Invitae genetic testing when ordered by a clinician using the company's comprehensive panel at no charge. Invitae will provide results to participating clinicians and their patients in as little as two weeks. Alnylam provides funding to support the program.

Hereditary ATTR amyloidosis is caused by misfolded transthyretin (TTR) proteins produced primarily in the liver. These misfolded molecules accumulate as amyloid fibrils in multiple organs, particularly in the peripheral nerves and heart. Hereditary ATTR amyloidosis is an extremely rare disease, with the most commonly recognized form affecting approximately 10,000 people worldwide. The disease can result in neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and other life-threatening conditions that may appear as early as 20 years of age. Patients have a life expectancy of five to 15 years from symptom onset. Accurate diagnosis can help guide treatment choices and access to clinical trials.

"Particularly for rare progressive diseases such as hATTR amyloidosis, early and accurate diagnosis is essential when making choices for managing the disease. We strongly believe that genetic testing has the ability to accelerate the diagnostic process, and an early diagnosis has the power to change medical outcomes," said Robert Nussbaum, MD, chief medical officer of Invitae. "Invitae is proud to partner with Alnylam to provide genetic testing to these patients to ensure they are able to make informed medical decisions for themselves and their families."

Patients and clinicians who are interested in The Alnylam Act can learn more at the program website at www.invitae.com/alnylam-act.

About Invitae
Invitae Corporation's (NYSE: NVTA) mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medical practice to improve the quality of healthcare for billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate most of the world's genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time, and lower price than many single-gene and panel tests today. The company currently provides a diagnostic service comprising hundreds of genes for a variety of genetic disorders associated with oncology, cardiology, neurology, pediatrics, and other rare disease areas. Additionally, the company has created a Genome Network to connect patients, clinicians, advocacy organizations, researchers, and drug developers to accelerate the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of hereditary disease. For more information, visit our website at invitae.com.

Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the company's belief that genetic testing has the ability to accelerate the diagnostic process and that an early diagnosis has the power to change medical outcomes. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:  the company's history of losses; the company's need to scale its infrastructure in advance of demand for its tests and to increase demand for its tests; the company's ability to develop and commercialize new tests and expand into new markets; the risk that the company may not obtain or maintain sufficient levels of reimbursement for its tests; risks associated with the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret test results accurately, consistently, and quickly; the company's ability to compete; laws and regulations applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

NOTE: Invitae and the Invitae logo are trademarks of Invitae Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:
Laura D'Angelo
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314-920-0617

SOURCE Invitae Corporation

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