Natera

Corporate brand

Natera is a clinical genetic testing company specializing in cell-free DNA analysis for women's health, oncology, and organ transplantation.

Last updated October 29, 2026

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Overview

Natera is a United States clinical genetic testing company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Its business is built around non-invasive analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), together with molecular biology methods and bioinformatics software designed to identify genetic signals in blood and other clinical samples. The company focuses on three principal areas: women's health, cancer monitoring, and organ health. The business began in 2004 under the name Gene Security Network, founded by Matthew Rabinowitz and Jonathan Sheena. Its early work centered on reproductive genetics. Natera introduced Spectrum, a preimplantation genetic testing product, in 2009, followed by Anora, a products-of-conception test used in miscarriage investigation, in 2010. Horizon, a carrier-screening service for inherited conditions, was launched in 2012. In 2013, the company introduced Panorama, a non-invasive prenatal test that uses a single-nucleotide polymorphism-based approach to analyze fetal DNA circulating in a pregnant patient's blood. Panorama became one of Natera's principal commercial offerings and helped establish the company in the prenatal testing market. Natera expanded beyond reproductive health during the late 2010s. Vistara, a single-gene prenatal screening test, was introduced in 2017. The same year, Natera introduced Signatera for research use as a molecular residual disease test. Signatera was subsequently developed for clinical use and is based on a personalized circulating tumor DNA approach intended to detect residual disease and monitor the risk of cancer recurrence. The company also entered transplant monitoring through Prospera, a donor-derived cell-free DNA test for assessing possible organ rejection, and broadened its kidney and hereditary cancer offerings with Renasight and Empower. Natera's products are generally laboratory-developed or specialized genetic testing services rather than consumer packaged goods. Testing is performed through laboratories accredited by the College of American Pathologists and certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, including facilities identified in San Carlos, California, and Austin, Texas. The company has also developed Constellation, a cloud-based bioinformatics platform that enables laboratories outside the United States to access aspects of Natera's testing technology. Natera became a publicly traded company in July 2015 through an initial public offering. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol NTRA. The company's growth has been accompanied by scientific publication and clinical validation activity, with its technology reported in peer-reviewed medical and scientific literature. Its positioning combines specialized molecular diagnostics, proprietary computational analysis, and disease-specific clinical applications. The company has also faced regulatory and legal scrutiny. In 2018, Natera paid an $11 million settlement to the United States Department of Justice concerning allegations related to improper billing and sales of Panorama to federal health-care programs during 2013–2016. The settlement was a significant compliance event in the company's history, although Natera remains active in the genetic testing market.

History

Natera was founded in 2004 as Gene Security Network by Matthew Rabinowitz and Jonathan Sheena. The company initially concentrated on reproductive genetics and sought to apply molecular analysis and computational methods to embryo and prenatal testing. Its first identified product, Spectrum, was launched in 2009 as a preimplantation genetic testing service. The company broadened its reproductive-health portfolio in 2010 with Anora, a products-of-conception test used to investigate the genetic characteristics of miscarriage tissue. In 2012, it introduced Horizon, a carrier-screening test designed to identify whether an individual carries variants associated with inherited conditions. Panorama followed in 2013. It is a non-invasive prenatal test based on analysis of fetal cell-free DNA in maternal blood and uses a single-nucleotide polymorphism-based methodology. The test was positioned for screening for conditions including trisomy 21 and trisomy 18 and for additional fetal and twin-related findings. Natera became a public company in July 2015, when it completed an initial public offering at $18 per share. The company continued to develop prenatal testing, launching Vistara, a single-gene non-invasive prenatal screening product, in 2017. That year also marked the introduction of Signatera for research use. Signatera was designed as a personalized circulating tumor DNA assay for molecular residual disease detection and recurrence monitoring. Natera later introduced a clinical version in 2019. The company's business subsequently expanded into oncology and transplant medicine. Signatera became the central oncology offering, using a patient's tumor profile to create a personalized assay intended to detect residual cancer and monitor recurrence. The company reported clinical validation in colorectal and breast cancer applications, while the product also received a CE Mark and expanded Medicare-related coverage during the period described in the reference material. Natera entered organ health with Prospera, a donor-derived cell-free DNA transplant assessment test launched in 2019. Prospera was designed to assess both T-cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejection and received final Medicare coverage in December 2019. In 2020, Natera introduced Renasight, a kidney gene panel intended to help determine whether kidney disease has a genetic cause and whether relatives may face elevated risk. It also launched Empower, a hereditary cancer testing product covering a broad panel of cancer-associated genes. Alongside its laboratory tests, Natera developed Constellation, a cloud-based bioinformatics platform that allows laboratories outside the United States to use aspects of its molecular testing technology. The company's laboratories in San Carlos, California, and Austin, Texas, are described as accredited by the College of American Pathologists and certified under CLIA. By May 2021, the company reported having performed more than three million cell-free DNA tests, and its technology had been discussed in more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. Natera's expansion has taken place alongside compliance and reimbursement challenges. In 2018, it paid an $11 million settlement to the United States Department of Justice relating to allegations of improper billing and sales of Panorama to federal health-care programs during 2013–2016. The settlement represents a notable regulatory and reputational event, but the company continued operating and expanding its clinical testing portfolio.

2020
Renasight and Empower launch
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera launched kidney disease testing with Renasight and hereditary cancer testing with Empower.
2019
Clinical Signatera and Prospera expansion
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera introduced the clinical version of Signatera and launched Prospera for transplant assessment.
2018
Federal billing settlement
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera paid an $11 million settlement related to allegations concerning Panorama billing and sales to federal health-care programs.
2017
Vistara and Signatera introduced
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera launched Vistara for single-gene prenatal screening and introduced Signatera for research use in oncology.
2015
Initial public offering
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera completed an IPO at $18 per share and began trading on Nasdaq under NTRA.
2013
Panorama launches
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera launched Panorama, a single-nucleotide polymorphism-based non-invasive prenatal test.
2012
Horizon launches
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera introduced Horizon carrier screening for inherited conditions.
2010
Anora launches
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
The company introduced Anora, a products-of-conception test for miscarriage investigation.
2009
Spectrum launches
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Natera launched Spectrum, its first identified product, for preimplantation genetic testing.
2004
Company founded as Gene Security Network
[1]Nateraen.wikipedia.org
Matthew Rabinowitz and Jonathan Sheena founded the company that later became Natera.

Products and positioning

A specialized molecular diagnostics company using cell-free DNA, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics to support reproductive, cancer, and transplant-related clinical decisions.

Non-invasive prenatal testing · 2013
Panorama
Panorama is a cell-free DNA prenatal screening test that analyzes fetal genetic material circulating in maternal blood. Its SNP-based approach is intended to screen for chromosomal conditions including Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome from early pregnancy, and it includes capabilities related to fetal sex, zygosity, and selected twin pregnancies. The product is a central part of Natera's women's-health portfolio.
Carrier screening · 2012
Horizon
Horizon is a next-generation sequencing carrier-screening service. It is designed to identify whether a tested person carries variants associated with inherited disorders and can evaluate carrier status across a large panel of genetic conditions. The test supports reproductive-risk assessment rather than diagnosing disease in an unaffected carrier.
Products-of-conception testing · 2010
Anora
Anora analyzes products of conception following miscarriage. The test is intended to provide genetic information about pregnancy loss, helping clinicians and patients investigate whether chromosomal abnormalities may have contributed to the miscarriage. It was one of Natera's early reproductive-genetics offerings.
Preimplantation genetic testing · 2009
Spectrum
Spectrum is Natera's preimplantation genetic testing offering for embryos created through assisted reproductive procedures. It was the company's first identified product and supports genetic assessment before embryo transfer. The service forms part of Natera's broader reproductive-health and fertility-testing portfolio.
Single-gene prenatal screening · 2017
Vistara
Vistara is a non-invasive prenatal screening test focused on selected single-gene disorders. It uses fetal genetic material found in maternal blood and extends prenatal screening beyond common whole-chromosome abnormalities. The product was introduced as part of Natera's expansion of its prenatal testing range.
Oncology molecular residual disease testing · 2017
Signatera
Signatera is a personalized circulating tumor DNA assay designed to detect molecular residual disease and monitor cancer recurrence. The test uses tumor-specific genetic information to create an individualized blood test. Natera has described clinical validation in colorectal and breast cancer settings, with applications including recurrence surveillance and treatment-response assessment.
Transplant monitoring · 2019
Prospera
Prospera is a donor-derived cell-free DNA transplant assessment test. It is intended to help evaluate the possibility of organ rejection and was described as having sensitivity to both T-cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejection. The product represents Natera's organ-health business and received final Medicare coverage in 2019.
Kidney disease genetic testing · 2020
Renasight
Renasight is a kidney gene panel intended to help determine whether an individual's kidney disease has a genetic basis. The testing may also provide information relevant to relatives who could share inherited risk. It expanded Natera's activity from transplant monitoring into broader kidney-health genetics.
Hereditary cancer testing · 2020
Empower
Empower is a hereditary cancer test that screens a broad group of genes associated with increased risk for several common cancers. It is intended to support inherited-risk assessment and may inform clinical management and family-risk discussions. The test was introduced in 2020.
Bioinformatics platform
Constellation
Constellation is a cloud-based bioinformatics platform that allows laboratories outside the United States to access and use elements of Natera's molecular testing technology in their own facilities. It extends the company's business beyond centralized laboratory testing by providing software and analytical infrastructure to external laboratories.

Controversies

2021
Natera sues Inivata over alleged patent infringement
In a lawsuit, Natera filed claims against Inivata Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiary, alleging infringement of two U.S. patents. Natera seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages. The allegations are claims asserted in the lawsuit and are not a stated court determination. The filing concerns the alleged patent infringement and the relief sought by Natera.
Source
2021
Guardant Health sues Natera over alleged advertising claims
Guardant Health sued Natera, alleging that Natera ran a campaign of false and misleading advertising concerning Guardant's Reveal cancer assay and made unfounded comparisons with its own product. These are allegations in the lawsuit.
Source
2020
Natera files patent infringement suit against CareDx
Natera announced that it filed a lawsuit against CareDx alleging infringement of Natera's U.S. Patent 10,526,658. The announcement presents Natera's allegation; it does not state that a court has reached a determination in the matter. The source describes the filing as a patent infringement suit brought by Natera against CareDx.
Source
2020
Natera files patent suit against Progenity
Natera filed suit against Progenity in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleging that Progenity's use and sale of its non-invasive prenatal test infringed six patents. Natera sought injunctive relief and monetary damages. The source reports allegations, not a court determination.
Source
2020
Natera sues ArcherDX over patent infringement
Natera filed suit against ArcherDX in the U.S. District Court of Delaware. Natera's complaint alleges that ArcherDX's sale and use of certain cell-free DNA-based oncology products infringes Natera's patent; the allegation is not presented as a court determination.
Source
2018
Federal billing and sales settlement
Natera paid an $11 million settlement to the United States Department of Justice over allegations involving improper billing and sales of Panorama testing to federal health-care programs during 2013–2016.
Source

2019
Launch of Prospera transplant assessment testingProduct launch
Background
Natera extended its cell-free DNA platform into organ-transplant monitoring.
Action taken
The company launched Prospera to assess possible transplant rejection and obtained final Medicare coverage in December 2019.
Aftermath
Prospera established organ health as a third major application area for Natera's testing technology.
Source
2017
Expansion into oncologyStrategy
Background
Natera sought to apply its cell-free DNA and bioinformatics capabilities beyond prenatal testing.
Action taken
The company introduced Signatera for research use and later developed it for clinical molecular residual disease testing.
Aftermath
Oncology became one of Natera's principal business areas, alongside women's health and organ health.
Source
2015
Public-market listingOther
Background
After developing a portfolio of reproductive genetic tests, Natera sought access to public equity markets.
Action taken
The company completed an initial public offering in July 2015 at $18 per common share and listed under the symbol NTRA.
Aftermath
Natera became a publicly traded clinical genetic testing company on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
IPO price per share. $18.00 (July 2015)
Source

Recent events

2021-07-21
Natera announces follow-on offering pricing[7]Natera宣布后续公开发行定价prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-07-22
Natera announced pricing for an underwritten public offering of 4,500,000 common shares at $113.00 per share. Closing was expected on July 26, 2021, subject to customary conditions.
2021-05-27
Guardant Health sues Natera over alleged advertising claims[5]Guardant Health sues Natera over alleged advertising claimslawstreetmedia.com
Reported: 2021-05-28
Guardant Health sued Natera, alleging that Natera ran a campaign of false and misleading advertising concerning Guardant's Reveal cancer assay and made unfounded comparisons with its own product. These are allegations in the lawsuit.
2021-01-20
Natera sues Inivata over alleged patent infringement[4]Natera sues Inivata over alleged patent infringementprnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-01-20
Natera filed a lawsuit against Inivata Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiary, alleging infringement of two U.S. patents. Natera seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages; the allegations are claims in the lawsuit, not a stated court determination.
2020-11-19
Natera appoints Monica Bertagnolli to its board[8]Natera任命Monica Bertagnolli加入董事会prnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-11-19
Natera announced that it appointed Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to its board of directors.
2020-09-10
Natera announces pricing of follow-on offering[9]Natera宣布后续公开发行定价prnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-09-11
Natera announced pricing for an underwritten public offering of 4,166,666 common shares at $60.00 per share. The closing was expected on September 15, subject to customary conditions.
2020-08-27
Natera and Mass General Cancer Center announce clinical-trial collaboration[10]Natera与Mass General Cancer Center宣布临床试验合作prnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-08-27
Natera announced a collaborative agreement with Mass General Cancer Center of Massachusetts General Hospital related to the LEADER multi-center randomized clinical trial in early-stage breast cancer, which will use Natera’s Signatera test.
2020-06-17
Natera files patent suit against Progenity[3]Natera files patent suit against Progenityprnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-06-17
Natera filed suit against Progenity in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleging that Progenity's use and sale of its non-invasive prenatal test infringed six patents. Natera sought injunctive relief and monetary damages; the source reports allegations, not a court determination.
2020-06-01
Natera launches background cfDNA quantification technique for Prospera[11]Natera为Prospera推出背景cfDNA定量技术prnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-06-01
Natera announced the launch of a technique that quantifies background cfDNA to enhance results from its Prospera transplant rejection assessment test.
2020-04-13
Natera withdraws 2020 financial guidance[12]Natera撤回2020财年财务指引prnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-04-13
Natera withdrew its financial guidance for fiscal year 2020, citing the dynamic situation and ongoing disruptions from COVID-19 and saying it could not predict the outbreak's impact on operating results.
2020-01-27
Natera sues ArcherDX over patent infringement[6]Natera sues ArcherDX over patent infringementprnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-01-27
Natera filed suit against ArcherDX in the U.S. District Court of Delaware. Natera's complaint alleges that ArcherDX's sale and use of certain cell-free DNA-based oncology products infringes Natera's patent; the allegation is not presented as a court determination.

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