Q&A with Gregory C. Critchfield, MD, MS, Chairman, President, and CEO of Sera Prognostics.

WHY IS THE PRETRM[R] TEST IMPORTANT?

In the U.S., 1 in 10 women have a premature baby. More than 50 percent of women pregnant with a single baby who deliver early have no known risk factors. Traditional tools fail to identify over 80 percent of such women. To develop the PreTRM[R] test, Sera created a specimen biobank and analyzed blood samples from women who delivered babies early, comparing them to women who delivered normally. We discovered biomarkers that are highly predictive of preterm birth, enabling us to develop our test. The test was rigorously validated to predict the risk of premature delivery by analyzing blood taken from the mother, during weeks 19 or 20 of pregnancy. The test provides accurate risk information to enable physicians and their patients to more proactively address the risks of prematurity--delivering healthier newborns and reducing healthcare costs.

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO INNOVATION?

We focused on premature birth as a big problem that needed a better solution. Our scientific approach is unique--discovering important biomarker changes in pregnancy.

WHY UTAH?

There is a strong heritage of innovation and collaboration in Utah, as well as diagnostic expertise. Before joining Sera, I served as president of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, where we launched seven novel molecular diagnostic products. This required experts in a number of areas. Utah offered a highly educated and experienced workforce, with substantially lower costs than in California...