Up to 10 percent of cancers may be caused by inherited genetic mutations, and Counsyl, which provides genetic testing and telephone-based genetic counseling services, is courting oncologists in a bid to reach more patients who might have genetic mutations linked to breast, ovarian, prostate and other kinds of cancers.
Until this year, San Francisco-based Counsyl, which was established in 2007, has marketed its family planning, pregnancy and inherited cancer genetic screening products to primary care physicians and obstetrician and gynecologists. However, last month, Counsyl announced that is launching an oncology business unit and expanding from 24 to 36 the genetic mutations its inherited cancer screening product tests for. That followed news in April that the Peter Thiel-backed company had cut its sales, marketing, design and engineering staff.
The goal of this new initiative is to make it easier for oncologists to have their patients tested for genetic mutations linked to cancer, said Kaylene Ready, Counsyl’s director of inherited cancer.
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