Women's Reproductive Health
At SignatureDx, we apply our technology of noninvasive liquid biopsy to combat several concerns to women’s health. Our involvement in women’s health is centered around prediction and early detection of specific conditions and complex diseases. Early detection of health conditions offers more time to prepare preventative health plans which could provide a more positive outcome for the patient.
Noninvasive Prenatal Screening
There is a growing need for accessible and low-risk prenatal screening as a proactive measure to assess the health of the pregnancy and discover signs of birth-related complications. Expectant mothers should be empowered with the knowledge to make informed decisions about concerns that may impact their health and the health of their baby.
Historically, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) have been used for prenatal testing in high-risk pregnancies to detect genetic conditions and abnormalities, but these invasive procedures come with their own risks and should only be administered when necessary for confirmatory purposes.
50%
of spontaneous miscarriages involve fetal chromosomal abnormalities1
20%
of infant deaths are directly related to birth defects2
10%
of clinical pregnancies have chromosomal abnormalities3
Our Solution
Noninvasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) offers an effective way to detect the potential of genetic conditions and complications of pregnancy. Using maternal plasma, we look for DNA methylation biomarkers to evaluate the fetal genetic health at a low risk to both the mother and baby.
Noninvasive prenatal screening is recommended for all pregnancies, regardless of maternal age or chromosomal risks.⁴ By screening for genetic conditions and abnormalities early on in the pregnancy, expectant mothers can collaborate with their care team to determine if additional diagnostics testing makes sense.
Preterm Birth
Preterm birth—any birth that occurs before 37 weeks gestation—is associated with high risks of morbidity and mortality, making it a major health concern in obstetrics. Infants who survive preterm birth are often at a higher risk for chronic diseases and disabilities.
12%
of U.S. births are preterm5
1M
Every year, 1 million preterm infants die worldwide due to complications from preterm birth6
20%
Over 21.5% of preterm infants are born with birth defects7
Our Solution
The prediction of spontaneous preterm birth could allow for revised birth plans and other implementations to improve the likelihood of a healthy birth.
Rather than obtaining amniotic fluid or fetal blood, we are developing a solution using a maternal blood sample as a low-risk and minimally invasive method to identify DNA methylation biomarkers. These biomarkers may help predict the risk of pregnancy complications.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside its normal anatomic location. There is currently no known cure for the disorder, often causing many debilitating symptoms and a severe impact on a woman’s quality of life. Women with endometriosis have a high risk of infertility as well as developing endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer.
15%
15% of reproductive age women are impacted by endometriosis8
30-50%
30-50% of women with endometriosis experience infertility9
Our Solution
Traditional diagnostics of endometriosis typically involve a laparoscopy—an invasive surgery that is often not a timely or accessible option for many patients. Our solution involves using patient plasma to look for DNA methylation biomarkers for minimally-invasive early detection of endometriosis.