Natera NTRA recently announced a collaboration with Kupando Therapeutics to support a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics in patients with advanced skin cancers. The collaboration will use Natera’s Latitude tissue-free molecular residual disease (MRD) test to monitor treatment response to KUP-101, Kupando’s investigational immunotherapy targeting innate immune activation.
Management stated that Natera is pleased to support Kupando’s development of its first-in-class approach to innate immune activation. Latitude’s ability to evaluate ctDNA dynamics across diverse solid tumors can provide molecular insights into treatment response, potentially supporting the clinical development of KUP-101 in difficult-to-treat cancers.
Likely Trend of NTRA Stock Following the News
Shares of NTRA have declined 1.9% since the announcement on Wednesday. Year to date, shares of the company have gained 35.3% compared with the industry’s 0.6% growth and the S&P 500’s 13.2% rise.
The collaboration with Kupando Therapeutics could positively impact Natera by expanding the use of its Latitude MRD testing in early-stage clinical research. Incorporating Latitude into a Phase I trial provides an opportunity to demonstrate the assay’s ability to track ctDNA dynamics across multiple advanced skin cancers and potentially broader solid tumor types. Successful results could strengthen Natera’s position in the growing MRD and precision oncology market, support additional biopharma partnerships, and increase adoption of its testing platform in clinical trials.
NTRA currently has a market capitalization of $44.67 billion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
More on the News
The collaboration follows the successful dosing of the first patient in Kupando’s Phase 1 trial. Following the initial dosing, Kupando’s safety committee approved continued enrollment across activated clinical sites, including leading oncology centers in Germany. The trial will generate serial molecular data to help characterize patient response to KUP-101 during treatment.
Under the collaboration, Latitude testing will be conducted at multiple timepoints during the trial to evaluate changes in ctDNA following KUP-101 treatment. The study is being conducted at activated clinical sites in Germany and will enroll patients with advanced tumors across multiple skin cancer types.
KUP-101 is designed to activate the innate immune system and induce trained immunity, offering a potentially tissue-agnostic approach across several solid tumor types. The investigational therapy is being evaluated both as a standalone treatment and in combination with other agents. By incorporating Latitude MRD testing into the trial, Kupando aims to better characterize the molecular activity of KUP-101 and generate data that may inform future clinical development.
Industry Prospects Favoring the Market
Going by the data provided by Precedence Research, the minimal residual disease testing market was valued at $1.70 billion in 2025 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 12% through 2034.
Factors like the demand for highly sensitive technologies like next-generation sequencing and digital PCR, which accurately detect minimal residual cancer cells to guide treatment decisions and predict patient outcomes, are boosting the market’s growth.
Other News
Natera announced that its MRD test, Signatera, received certification as a Class C device under the European Union’s In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) for use across multiple types of cancer. Signatera is certified to be used in adjuvant and surveillance settings across a broad range of cancers, including gastrointestinal, genitourinary, breast, skin, gynecological, head and neck, non-small cell lung cancer, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and pan-cancer immunotherapy monitoring.
Natera partnered with Aveta Biomics to support AVTA 30-01, a global Phase 3 registrational trial of its oral immunotherapy, APG-157, in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Natera’s Signatera test will be integrated into the AVTA 30-01 Phase 3 study to assess MRD and treatment response during neoadjuvant, induction, adjuvant and follow-up care.
Natera partnered with Eledon Pharmaceuticals to integrate its Prospera kidney transplant assessment test into Eledon’s planned Phase 3 clinical trial of tegoprubart, an investigational therapy designed to prevent organ rejection in kidney transplantation.
NTRA’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Natera currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Globus Medical GMED, West Pharmaceutical WST and The Cooper Companies COO.
Globus Medical, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.6%. Revenues of $789.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.9%.
West Pharmaceutical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.37, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.9%. Revenues of $872.3 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.2%.
WST has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 16%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 17.4%.
The Cooper Companies, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported a second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.21, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10%. Revenues of $1.08 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.6%.
COO has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 8.3%. COO’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 5.8%.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Â
Â
Â
Â
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.