Natera’s SCORE Study Builds Real-World Evidence for Cancer MRD Testing

Natera Inc. (NTRA) announced an update on their ongoing clinical study.

The SCORE (Sample Collection for Ongoing Research and Product Evaluation) study from Natera Inc. is a large, forward-looking project that collects blood and tissue samples, plus basic medical data, from people with a wide range of solid tumors. Its main goal is to test how well Natera’s molecular residual disease (MRD) tools can spot signs of cancer returning and track how tumors respond to treatment. For investors, the study matters because it aims to prove the real-world value of Natera’s cancer monitoring platform across many common cancers, which could support broader clinical use and reimbursement over time.

The study does not test a drug or traditional treatment. Instead, it evaluates Natera’s blood-based MRD assays, which look for tiny traces of tumor DNA in the blood. The purpose is to see how reliably these tests can flag cancer activity earlier than imaging or routine lab work. Strong results could help position Natera’s tests as a standard add-on to cancer care, from post-surgery monitoring to guiding therapy decisions.

The SCORE study is observational, meaning doctors do not assign or change treatment as part of the trial. Patients receive their usual cancer care, while researchers collect samples and data over time. There is no randomization and no masking; all data collection is straightforward. The primary purpose is practical: to understand how Natera’s tests perform in everyday oncology settings and across different tumor types, rather than in a tightly controlled drug trial.

The study is currently recruiting. It was first submitted on December 19, 2025, which marks the formal start of the regulatory record and the point from which timelines are tracked. The latest update was submitted on January 12, 2026, signaling that the protocol and status information are current. Primary completion and final completion dates are not yet listed, which is typical for a broad, multi-cancer registry; investors should expect data to emerge in stages as enough patients with each cancer type are followed over time.

For the market, this update reinforces Natera’s push to scale its MRD business across multiple solid tumors, beyond its early foothold in select cancers. Fresh recruiting activity and a recent registry update support the view that management is investing for long-term growth in oncology testing. If SCORE confirms strong performance in real-world practice, it could strengthen Natera’s position against rivals in minimal residual disease testing and liquid biopsy, and support better payer coverage. In the near term, the study is unlikely to move the stock on its own, but it adds to the pipeline of clinical evidence that underpins Natera’s valuation and longer-term revenue narrative, while keeping investor focus on execution, adoption, and competitive dynamics in cancer diagnostics.

The SCORE study remains active and under evaluation, with further details and updates available on the ClinicalTrials portal.

To learn more about NTRA’s potential, visit the Natera Inc. drug pipeline page.