Hologic reports positive results for HPV test

New York, NY

Hologic reports positive results from large-scale study of its HPV test

Diagnostic test maker Hologic Inc. late Thursday said its Cervista HPV test met or exceeded expectations in a trial of more than 4,000 women.

The test is designed to detect the 14 types of human papillomavirus that cause cancer. Hologic has submitted the test to the Food and Drug Administration, which is reviewing it as a general screening test for women 30 years old and up.

The company said its primary trial of the test showed 100 percent accuracy at detecting the HPV strain that poses the highest risk of cancer. Cervista showed 92 percent accuracy at detecting a second strain that is often linked to cervical cancer.

Hologic, whose products are geared toward women's health, is scheduled to present the results formally at a medical conference in Nice, France, on Saturday.

Lazard Capital Markets analyst Dr. Sean Lavin reaffirmed a "Buy" rating on the stock, and said physicians will likely be impressed by the test's sensitivity in detecting HPV. He also reaffirmed a $24 price target.

The test would compete with an HPV test made by Netherlands-based Qiagen N.V.

Shares of Hologic fell 19 cents to $14.33 in morning trading.

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