PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Interpace Diagnostics Group (NASDAQ: IDXG), a company that provides specialized molecular diagnostic tests and pathology services for evaluating risk of cancer, completed the validation and launch of two new thyroid services, further expanding the Company's comprehensive support of physicians and health care institutions servicing thyroid patients.

The Company expects the new service offerings will generate an estimated 400 new specimens in the first 45 days following the initial launch.

"We continue to expand our product offerings to service the needs of our customers and their patients, and these service enhancements to our thyroid program are in response to what the market is telling us is important," commented Jack Stover, President and CEO of Interpace. 

Interpace's new cytopathology service is designed to assist physicians and clinics that prefer to have the initial Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) biopsy assessed by an independent third party versus having it performed on site.

The cytopathology service will be provided by a network of three of the top pathology labs in the country for assessing thyroid cancer risk, including Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA; Diagnostic Clinical Labs, Indianapolis, IN; and Reliance Pathology Partners, Tampa, FL. These labs will perform the initial cytology and forward those cases deemed indeterminate to Interpace for molecular testing with ThyGenX and ThyraMir.

The Company has also completed its validation to perform ThyGenX and ThyraMir molecular testing using smear-based cytology slides in addition to the previous approvals for samples that were validated only on specimens from FNA biopsies that were preserved in RNA Retain.

A poster entitled "Molecular Analysis of Thyroid Malignancy Using Cytology Smears by Combined THYGENX™ and THYRAMIR™ testing: A Prospective Study", highlighting the clinical performance of the combined ThyGenX and ThyraMIR tests when carried out on FNA material smeared on cytology slides, was presented at the American Thyroid Association (ATA) Annual Meeting held in Denver September 19-23. Some customers prefer to send this sample type for molecular evaluation, and the Company can now accept and process both methods of preparation.

About Thyroid Nodules, ThyGenX and ThyraMIR testing

According to the American Thyroid Association, approximately 15% to 30% of the 525,000 thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNAs) performed on an annual basis in the U.S. are indeterminate for malignancy based on standard cytological evaluation, and thus are candidates for ThyGenX and ThyraMIR.ThyGenX and ThyraMIR reflex testing yields high predictive value in determining the presence and absence of cancer in thyroid nodules. The combination of both tests can improve risk stratification and surgical decision-making when standard cytopathology does not provide a clear diagnosis for the presence of cancer. ThyGenX utilizes state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify more than 100 genetic alterations associated with papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas, the two most common forms of thyroid cancer. ThyraMIR is the first microRNA gene expression classifier. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that bind to messenger RNA and regulate expression of genes involved in human cancers, including every subtype of thyroid cancer. ThyraMIR measures the expression of 10 microRNAs. Both ThyGenX and ThyraMIR are covered by both Medicare and Commercial insurers. 

About  Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc.
Interpace Diagnostics provides clinically useful molecular diagnostic tests and pathology services for evaluating risk of cancer by leveraging the latest technology in personalized medicine for better patient diagnosis and management. The Company currently has three commercialized molecular tests: PancraGen® for the evaluation of pancreatic cysts and assessment of risk of concomitant or subsequent cancer; ThyGenX®, for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer from thyroid nodules utilizing a next generation sequencing assay; and ThyraMIR®, for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer from thyroid nodules utilizing a proprietary gene expression assay. Interpace Diagnostics mission is to provide personalized medicine through molecular diagnostics and innovation to advance patient care based on rigorous science.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, relating to our future financial and operating performance. The company has attempted to identify forward looking statements by terminology including "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "projects," "intends," "potential," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should," "approximately" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions and uncertainties involving judgments about, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond company's control. These statements also involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause company's actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to adequately finance the business, our ability to restructure our debt and other obligations, the market's acceptance of our molecular diagnostic tests, our ability to secure additional business and generate higher profit margins through sales of our molecular diagnostic tests, in-licensing or other means, projections of future revenues, growth, gross profit and anticipated internal rate of return on investments. Additionally, all forward-looking statements are subject to the risk factors detailed from time to time in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including without limitation, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2016, as amended on April 29, 2016 and June 14, 2016. Because of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

CONTACTS:

Interpace Diagnostics
Investor and Public Relations:

Paul Kuntz
Communications Director
RedChip Companies
Paul@RedChip.com 
412-708-4590

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SOURCE Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc.