Natera announces commercial launch of Zenith genomics

Natera (NTRA) announced the commercial launch of Zenith genomics, the company’s whole genome sequencing assay designed to improve the detection of rare diseases. The company said, “Zenith genomics was built to address one of the most critical challenges in medicine: timely and accurate diagnosis of rare genetic conditions. Rare diseases affect an estimated 30 million Americans annually, many of whom experience prolonged diagnostic odysseys. The cumulative economic burden of rare diseases in the United States was nearly $997 billion in 2019, including $449 billion in direct medical costs and $548 billion in indirect and non-medical costs, underscoring the scale of unmet need and societal impact.” Shares of GeneDx (WGS), which offers genetic testing for rare diseases, are down 4% to $81.40 in premarket trading.