SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) today announced that, in support of National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Week and National Previvor Day, it has launched an online quiz to help people assess their risk for hereditary cancers. The Hereditary Cancer Quiz is available online at http://www.hereditarycancerquiz.com. In addition, the company is providing financial support toward educational and awareness initiatives to three advocacy organizations-Bright Pink, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) and Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC).

HBOC Week marks the transition between National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and was established by U.S. Congressional resolution in 2010 to raise awareness about hereditary cancer. National Previvor Day raises awareness for those individuals who have a known gene mutation or a strong family history of cancer but have not yet developed cancer.

"Understanding their risk for hereditary cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer, is critical to helping patients make informed decisions about treatment and prevention. Our hereditary cancer risk quiz empowers patients to understand their family history and provides a framework for an informative discussion with a healthcare professional," said Mark Capone, President, Myriad Genetic Laboratories. "In addition, organizations such as Bright Pink, NOCC and Living Beyond Breast Cancer offer hereditary cancer patients and their families vital support and information in their fight against these diseases, and we are proud to support their efforts."

"Funding from Myriad and our other partner companies assists our organization in offering better and more valuable resources to hereditary cancer patients and their families," said David Barley, Chief Executive Officer, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. "We are proud to work with Myriad, as they play a major role in the understanding and diagnosis of a person's hereditary risk for cancer."

About Hereditary Cancer

Hereditary cancers, also called inherited cancers, are those caused by genetic mutations that are passed from parent to child. These mutations predispose people to developing a particular type of cancer. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common cause of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers and can lead to male breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and others. Women with a BRCA mutation are five times more likely to develop breast cancer than those without the mutation and more than ten times as likely to develop ovarian cancer1. Approximately 7%2 of breast cancer and approximately 14% 3,4,5 of invasive ovarian cancer result from inherited gene mutations.

DNA testing for BRCA mutations is done through a blood or saliva test and can indicate whether a person carries a BRCA gene mutation. Testing is recommended for people with certain personal and/or family history pattern, including:

Myriad Genetics is a pioneer in hereditary cancer testing and offers tests for a variety of hereditary cancer syndromes, including BRACAnalysis(R), which detects mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. This test has become the standard of care in identification of individuals with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Nearly one million patients have benefited from Myriad's hereditary cancer testing.

About Myriad Genetics

Myriad Genetics is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to making a difference in patients' lives through the discovery and commercialization of transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess risk of disease progression and recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a commitment to improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. Myriad is focused on strategic directives to introduce new products, including companion diagnostics, as well as expanding internationally. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com

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Myriad Genetics Sponsors Cancer Awareness Initiatives in Support of National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week