SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sera Prognostics, Inc., a women's healthcare company, today announced its recognition and support of World Prematurity Day on November 17 with a donation to the Utah chapter of March of Dimes. This international awareness day has been celebrated since 2011. Parent groups, families, health professionals, politicians, hospitals, organizations and other stakeholders involved in preterm birth observe this day with media campaigns, local events and other activities conducted on local, regional, national or international levels to raise awareness among the public. World Prematurity Day is being celebrated in over 60 countries.
Sera is completing its landmark Proteomic Assessment of Preterm Risk (PAPR) clinical study, a multi-center US study conducted from 2012-2014 at eleven academic centers of excellence. This study is entirely representative of the current US demographic, with 5,500 women enrolled who have singleton pregnancies. It is the largest "all-comers" study undertaken in the USA to assess predictive proteomic biomarkers for preterm birth. The goal of the PAPR study is to validate biomarkers to accurately assess the individual's risk of having a preterm birth with a blood test taken in mid-pregnancy. Providing early, accurate individualized risk information for each woman has the potential of helping doctors and patients to make better decisions, with the goal of improving the health of the newborn.
"We are very excited to join the fight against preterm birth and recognize the importance represented by World Prematurity Day," said Gregory C. Critchfield, M.D., M.S., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sera Prognostics. "Our goal at Sera Prognostics is to provide early prediction of preterm birth risk through our PreTRM™ test, giving women and their doctors better information about risks of prematurity to potentially improve neonatal health. With better information early in pregnancy, healthcare professionals have the possibility of being more proactive in taking steps designed to reduce the frequency and severity of preterm birth."
Sera is planning the launch of its PreTRM™ test in 2015.
About PreTRM™
Sera's PreTRM™ test will use a routine blood sample obtained during the second trimester of pregnancy to provide an early and individualized assessment of a woman's risk of preterm birth. Upon launch, commercial testing will be performed at Sera's state-of-the-art CLIA laboratory with results returned to referring physicians. Physicians may then use this information to help guide clinical decisions with respect to personalized interventions intended to improve care and potentially reduce the costs of prolonged stays in neonatal intensive care units.
About Preterm Birth
Of the 4 million babies born annually in the U.S., approximately one in eight, or 12 percent, is born preterm. Preterm birth is the leading cause of illness and death in newborns and is associated with a significantly increased risk of major long-term medical complications, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory illness, intellectual disability, seizures, and vision and hearing loss. A study published by the Institute of Medicine and the March of Dimes reported that total costs incurred in the U.S. for treating complications of preterm birth in 2005 exceed $26 billion. The complications from preterm birth also extend beyond the first year of life, and generate significant costs throughout the lives of affected children.
About Sera Prognostics, Inc.
Sera Prognostics is a private biotechnology company developing innovative diagnostic tests designed for the early prediction of preterm birth and other pregnancy complications. Sera's tests are designed to help better inform the care of a mother and her unborn child during pregnancy, and potentially lead to improved health. The company has assembled a strong management team and Board of Directors with significant clinical development and women's healthcare diagnostic experience. Sera's Proteomic Assessment of Preterm Birth study is fully enrolled, as one of the world's largest and broadest clinical trials to validate the performance of its PreTRM™ Test for predicting the risk of preterm birth. Sera Prognostics is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.seraprognostics.com.