Quest Diagnostics Acquires Blueprint Genetics to Broaden Access to Actionable Insights for Genetic and Rare Diseases
Secaucus, N.J, USA and Helsinki, Finland – January 22, 2020 -- Quest Diagnostics acquired Blueprint Genetics in an all-cash equity transaction. Blueprint Genetics is a leading specialty genetic testing company with deep expertise in gene variant interpretation based on next generation sequencing (NGS) and proprietary bioinformatics. Together, Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, and Blueprint Genetics will broaden access to actionable insights in genetic and rare diseases, improving patient care and pharmaceutical drug research and development.
“The great challenge with genetic testing is generating quality, actionable and broadly accessible insights from vast quantities of sequenced genetic data,” said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, Pesident and CEO, Quest Diagnostics “Blueprint Genetics has developed a proven model for delivering highly specialized genetic insights that we believe we can scaleto serve new patient populations with unmet clinical needs. The addition of Blueprint Genetics strengthens and extends the Quest value proposition in genetics, delivering on our Accelerate growth strategy and vision of a healthier world.”
Through its Advanced Diagnostics offerings, Quest specializes in combining state-of-the-art technologies, such as next generation sequencing, with higher-order interpretative expertise and digital customer enablement. Blueprint Genetics brings to Quest high-touch service in variant interpretation and reporting and associated sequencing and bioinformatics, which complement and extend its existing genetics leadership.
Blueprint Genetic’s growth is based largely on proprietary guideline-supported methods of gene variant interpretation of data generated from next generation sequencing, backed by high-touch consultative service. The company provides 3,900 targeted single gene and over 200 panel tests spanning 14 medical specialties. Gene variant interpretation involves identifying associations between gene variants and disease or treatment response.
"Blueprint Genetics prides itself on resolving the most challenging genetic and rare disease cases to improve patient out comes," said Tommi Lehtonen, CEO Blueprint Genetics who has agreed to continue to lead the company. “Teaming up with Quest will allow us to extend our capabilities in the United States as well as in Canada and other countries where we already have strong and growing client relationships. While we considered joining forces with several organizations,Quest’s genetics leadership, national infrastructure and strong cultural fit made it the perfect partner from which to extend our reach to new providers and patients.”
Genetic testing can aid in diagnosing many rare diseases as well as identifying future risk of and treatment for certain cancers and other conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 7,000 rare diseases exist and as many as 30 million Americans have a rare disease.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 46,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives.
For further information:
Kim Gorode, Quest Diagnostics (Media): 973-520-2800;Shawn Bevec, Quest Diagnostics (Investors): 973-520-2900
www.questdiagnostics.com
About Blueprint Genetics
Blueprint Genetics is one of the fastest growing genetic diagnostics businesses globally in the field of clinical genetic testing of rare inherited diseases. The company is based in Helsinki and Seattle, with a customer base spanning over 70 countries.
For further information:
Tommi Lehtonen, Blueprint Genetics,tommi.lehtonen@blueprintgenetics.com.
Juulia Simonen (Communications):juulia.simonen@blueprintgenetics.com, tel +358503059018.
www.blueprintgenetics.com.
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