Tuesday, July 20, 2010

FDA sends letters to genomic testing companies

Of interest to those in the genomic testing space, via BioCentury:

FDA sends letters to genomic testing companies

FDA sent letters to 14 companies that market genetic testing kits notifying them that the tests do not have FDA clearance or approval. The agency requested a response within 15 days. The letters come on the second day of a public meeting to discuss FDA's forthcoming oversight of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs), which the agency has historically not regulated.

On Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on oversight and investigations will hold a hearing to discuss direct-to-consumer personal genetic tests. FDA has already sent letters to six other companies regarding their respective personal genetic testing kits.

Interleukin Genetics Inc. (NYSE-A:ILI) and Sequenom Inc. (NASDAQ:SGNM) each received a letter. Interleukin markets its Inherent Health personal genetic test, while Sequenom markets the SEQureDx test to detect circulating cell-free nucleic acids in blood samples from pregnant women for fetal gene and chromosome abnormalities. Interleukin was off $0.02 to $0.40 on Tuesday. Sequenom was off $0.12 to $5.69.

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