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Adaptive Biotechnologies Highlights Role of Highly Sensitive MRD Testing in New International Myeloma Society Definition of CureSEATTLE, Sept. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (Nasdaq: ADPT), a commercial stage biotechnology company that aims to translate the genetics of the adaptive immune system into clinical products to diagnose and treat disease, today highlighted the new consensus definition of cure for multiple myeloma, presented at the International Myeloma Society (IMS) 23rd Annual Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, on behalf of IMS and the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG). Long considered an incurable disease, multiple myeloma is entering a new phase in which some patients are remaining free of detectable disease for years after treatment ends. Significant advances in both myeloma therapeutic strategies and disease monitoring technologies are giving clinicians more effective ways to drive deep responses and more sensitive ways to measure them. As more patients achieve these outcomes, a clear standard for determining when a long-term response may be considered a cure is necessary. The new consensus definition establishes that standard and places sustained measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity at the center of determining whether a deep response has endured over time. Under the consensus definition reached by global myeloma experts, a patient with newly diagnosed or relapsed disease may be considered cured after five years in complete remission without any myeloma treatment. During that period, the definition requires:
These criteria illustrate that advanced disease assessment methodologies, including clonoSEQ®, will play a central role in determining which patients meet the definition of cure. “In the world of treating multiple myeloma, we have now reached a point where we can actually cure patients. Part of that cure definition is that the patient has no measurable disease in their bone marrow,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wolf, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco. “The ideal way of measuring that is to use the clonoSEQ Assay, which has been proven over many years to be the most reproducible way of defining residual disease in these patients.” Establishing this consensus definition is the beginning of a new era for patients; significant ongoing research will be required to continue to expand the fraction who are cured and to better understand the probability of cure in specific patient subpopulations. “Patients are excited to hear the cure conversationgain momentum but want to balance the hope with their lived reality,” said Jenny Ahlstrom, myeloma patient and CEO and founder, HealthTree Foundation. “Given that all myeloma is not the same, learning who can and will be cured will be one of the most important discoveries in the near future.” “The consensus definition of cure in myeloma marks a defining moment for the patient community and a landmark achievement for the field. Together with last week’s NCCN Guidelines® update, this development clearly affirms that highly sensitive MRD assessment should be systematically integrated into routine myeloma care,” said Susan Bobulsky, chief commercial officer, MRD, Adaptive Biotechnologies. “As the first and only FDA-cleared next-generation sequencing MRD test, clonoSEQ is uniquely positioned to support the level of rigor the cure definition requires, giving clinicians a precise way to measure deep responses over time and offering patients clearer insight into the outcome of their treatment.” About clonoSEQ clonoSEQ identifies and quantifies DNA sequences in malignant cells—detecting one cancer cell in one million healthy cells—to help clinicians and researchers assess and monitor MRD with precision over time. It delivers standardized, sensitive results that inform treatment decisions, predict outcomes, and detect relapses earlier. clonoSEQ has been extensively studied in more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. clonoSEQ is CE-marked under the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR). For intended use details in the EU, see the instructions for use, available on request. To review the FDA-cleared uses of clonoSEQ, visit clonoSEQ.com/technical-summary. About Adaptive Biotechnologies Forward-Looking Statements In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We caution you that forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections regarding the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result, the forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law. ADAPTIVE INVESTORS ADAPTIVE MEDIA 
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