Key Developments For Celera Corporation
Celera Corporation (CRA.O) (Nasdaq)
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. Issues Q4 2009 Guidance Below Analysts' Estimates; Narrows FY 2009 Revenue Guidance To A Range In Line With Analysts' Estimates
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. announced that for fourth quarter of 2009, it expects revenue to be in the range of net loss of $4 -$6 million or $0.05 - $0.07, on a non-GAAP basis. For fiscal 2009, it expects revenue to be in the range of $163-$167 million, the same mid-point as prior guidance of $160-$170 million. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts were expecting the Company to report net profit of $(3) million and EPS of $(0.03) for fourth quarter of 2009; revenue of $167 million for fiscal 2009.
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. And Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Enter Research Collaboration To Evaluate Effect Of KIF6 Testing On Compliance With Statin Therapy
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. announced that they have entered into a research collaboration to evaluate whether testing for a gene variant called KIF6 increases patient adherence with statin therapy. Current studies have suggested that only about 50% to 60% of the patients who receive a prescription for a lipid-lowering drug are taking the medication after six months1. This level of adherence falls to 30% to 40% after two years in patients with coronary artery disease2. As part of this collaboration, the companies will conduct a prospective, randomized, open-label, multi-center study (AKROBATS - Additional KIF6 Risk Offers Better Adherence to Statins) to address the primary question of whether patient adherence with newly prescribed statin therapy is higher in those patients tested for KIF6 status than in those who are not offered the test. Medco expects to test approximately 650 members for their KIF6 status and compare adherence with statin therapy to an equally-sized control group whose KIF6 status is not known. Samples will be collected by using a simple cheek swab. Testing will be performed by Berkeley HeartLab, Inc., a Celera subsidiary, using its laboratory developed test. Following review and approval by an Institutional Review Board, the study is expected to begin this fall, and patients` statin adherence is expected to be monitored by Medco`s current pharmacy benefit methods over the course of 18 months.
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. and Aurora Enter Collaboration for Use of Cardiovascular Genetics
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. and Aurora Health Care, Wisconsin's health care provider, announced that they have entered into an agreement to collaborate on the integration of genetic testing aimed at optimizing heart care for Aurora patients.
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. Lowers FY 2009 Revenue Guidance; Issues H2 2009 Guidance Below Analysts' Estimates; Issues Q3 2009 EPS Guidance Below Analysts' Estimates
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. announced that for fiscal 2009, it expects total revenues to be $160-$170 million. For second half of 2009, it anticipates a loss of $5-$9 million, or $0.06-$0.11, on a non-GAAP basis, with the loss in the third quarter of 2009 expected to be $0.05-$0.07 on a non-GAAP basis. This expectation reflects that the anticipated cost savings from the announced restructurings will not be fully realized until the fourth quarter of 2009. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts were expecting the Company to report revenues of $182 million for fiscal 2009; non-GAAP net income of $0.15 million and non-GAAP EPS of $0.01 for third quarter of 2009; non-GAAP net income of $0.74 million and non-GAAP EPS of $0.02 for fourth quarter of 2009.
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. Presents Data Replicating Its Immunodiagnostic Assay to Detect Lung Cancer from Blood Serum
Celera Genomics, an Applera Corp. announced the presentation of data replicating its mass spectrometry-based approach to identify and validate circulating protein biomarkers that detect non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in an independent cohort of individuals with lung cancer. This study was performed in collaboration with scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center, NY. A key outcome of the study was the validation of a 9 biomarker immunoassay on a cohort of samples that is enriched for stage I disease, important for screening of early stage disease. The assay detected lung cancer with 92% sensitivity at 93% specificity. The panel also accurately distinguished malignant cases from benign lung disease. This study confirms the performance of a 9 member biomarker panel previously presented at the 100th Annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference in April 2009. In addition, the authors report the high performance of a 6 marker panel derived from the 9 marker panel which distinguishes malignant cases with 92% sensitivity at 88% specificity. Celera expects to continue the evaluation of the clinical utility of both the 6 and 9 marker panels in an effort to determine which panel would offer optimal performance in a broad clinical setting. The study included 13 candidate biomarkers from a larger set of markers that had been selected from approximately 500 proteins previously identified by a proteomic discovery effort.
