Natera develops and commercializes non-invasive methods for analyzing cell-free DNA through a CLIA laboratory, offering preconception and prenatal genetic testing services primarily to OBGYN physicians and in‑vitro fertilization centers. Its flagship product, Panorama, launched in 2013 to screen for common fetal chromosomal anomalies as early as nine weeks of gestation. The company plans to expand worldwide sales and marketing capability and to invest in research and development. Research priorities include continuous innovation on existing products such as Panorama, development of non-invasive cell free DNA‑based tests for early cancer detection and therapeutic monitoring, and clinical trials to demonstrate test effectiveness and utility in clinical practice. Natera reported raising approximately $55.5M in funding and notes that its tests have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. FDA. Matthew Rabinowitz, PhD, is the company’s chief executive officer. Natera is a genetic testing company that developed the Panorama non-invasive prenatal test and the NATUS bioinformatics platform. Panorama analyzes 19,500 SNPs in a single reaction and uses fetal cell-free DNA to detect chromosomal abnormalities as early as nine weeks gestation. Clinical validation reported >99% sensitivity for common trisomies, 92% sensitivity for monosomy X, and 100% specificity with no false positives for the syndromes tested. Natera operates a CLIA-certified laboratory in San Carlos, Calif., and provides a range of reproductive tests including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, products-of-conception testing, paternity testing, and carrier screening. The company plans to expand its lab and team to meet rising demand and to investigate new applications for the NATUS technology. Its PreNATUS clinical trial for non-invasive screening of fetal chromosomal anomalies is funded by the NIH and is being led by maternal-fetal medicine investigators. Natera (formerly Gene Security Network) develops reproductive and prenatal genetic testing using a proprietary bioinformatics platform called Parental Support. The company operates a CLIA laboratory in Redwood City, California, and offers services including preimplantation genetic diagnosis, products-of-conception testing after miscarriage, and non-invasive prenatal testing (including paternity testing available worldwide). Natera is conducting an NIH-funded clinical trial for non-invasive detection of chromosomal anomalies. The company plans to use recent proceeds to continue development and commercialization of a non-invasive prenatal diagnostic for Down syndrome and other genetic conditions and to expand the clinical trial. Management says it is preparing for a commercial launch of the test in 2012. The name change to Natera accompanies the announced financing and commercialization push. Gene Security Network is a molecular diagnostics company that uses data informatics to enhance genetic testing of DNA. It has developed Parental Support™, a proprietary technology that diagnoses the genetic state of a single cell from an embryo. Parental Support currently incorporates genetic information from the parents and HapMap data from the Human Genome Project to clarify single-cell measurements and generate an in silico reconstruction of the cell’s genotype. The company intends to apply the technology beyond the fertility market into areas such as prenatal diagnostics to improve test accuracy and coverage. Gene Security Network closed a $12M Series C financing to accelerate these applications. The financing was announced in January 2010.

Total raised

$142M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Apr 2015