Natera Inc presents promising ALTAIR trial data at ASCO GI 2026
Natera Inc's stock rose by 4.05% today, reaching a 52-week high. This increase comes as the Nasdaq-100 is up 0.82% and the S&P 500 is up 0.61%.
The surge is attributed to Natera presenting significant data from the ALTAIR trial at ASCO GI 2026, showing a median disease-free survival of 9.23 months for FTD/TPI treatment compared to 5.55 months for placebo, indicating strong efficacy in colorectal cancer patients. This analysis highlights the potential of FTD/TPI in clinical applications and showcases Natera's leadership in ctDNA dynamic monitoring.
These findings not only enhance Natera's reputation in the oncology space but also suggest a promising future for personalized cancer treatment strategies, potentially attracting more investors and driving further stock appreciation.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: In 2025, Exelixis reported a 7% revenue increase to $2.3 billion, primarily driven by its cabozantinib franchise, which not only solidifies its market position but also funds future research and development efforts.
- Improved Profitability: Earnings per share (EPS) reached $2.78, up 57.9%, reflecting the company's success in cost control and sales growth, which further boosts investor confidence in its financial health.
- New Drug Application Approval: The FDA approved the New Drug Application for zanzalintinib in combination with atezolizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer on February 2, with a final decision expected by December 3, potentially opening new revenue streams for the company.
- Expanded Partnerships: Exelixis has partnered with companies like Takeda and Ipsen to sell cabozantinib in Japan, while also collaborating with Natera for clinical trials of zanzalintinib, enhancing its market penetration and research capabilities.
- Drug Diversification: Exelixis' lead drug cabozantinib (Cabometyx and Cometriq) is approved for kidney, thyroid, and liver cancers, and is currently in a phase 3 trial for advanced neuroendocrine tumors in the lung, thymus, and gastrointestinal tract, which is expected to enhance its market share.
- New Drug Approval: The FDA approved zanzalintinib in combination with atezolizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer on February 2, with a final decision on its application due by December 3, which could significantly bolster Exelixis' product portfolio if successful.
- Strategic Partnerships: Exelixis collaborates with Takeda and Ipsen to sell cabozantinib in Japan, and has partnered with Natera to utilize its Signatera assay for identifying colorectal cancer patients, enhancing the efficacy of zanzalintinib's clinical trials.
- Strong Financial Performance: In 2025, Exelixis reported a 7% revenue increase to $2.3 billion, primarily from cabozantinib, with earnings per share (EPS) reaching $2.78, up 57.9%, reflecting the company's robust market performance and profitability.
- Clinical Trial Results: Natera's presentation of 11 scientific abstracts at ASCO GU, including 4 oral presentations, underscores the potential of Signatera MRD in enhancing the quality of life for patients with genitourinary cancers, particularly in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
- Treatment Response Monitoring: The INDIBLADE and RETAIN multicenter phase 2 trials demonstrate consistent performance of Signatera in monitoring treatment responses across various neoadjuvant regimens, with 73-77% of patients showing ctDNA clearance post-therapy, indicating its critical role in bladder preservation strategies.
- Survival Rate Improvement: The INDIBLADE study reveals that Signatera-negative patients post-ICI treatment achieve a bladder-intact event-free survival (BI-EFS) rate of up to 91%, highlighting Signatera's potential in optimizing clinical decisions, especially in bladder preservation therapies.
- Innovative Risk Stratification: The NIAGARA study presents the first-ever correlation of urinary tumor DNA (utDNA) data with clinical outcomes, suggesting that the combined assessment of utDNA and ctDNA can provide comprehensive risk stratification for residual disease, aiding physicians in identifying patients who may require additional therapy.
- Significant Revenue Growth: Natera reported approximately $666 million in revenue for Q4 2025, reflecting a 40% increase year-over-year and exceeding expectations by $6 million, indicating strong market performance and sustained demand growth.
- Innovative Testing Volume: The company processed about 924,000 tests in Q4, with 225,000 MRD clinical units, marking a 56% increase from the previous year, which not only enhances market share but also strengthens its competitive position in precision medicine.
- Margin Improvement: Natera achieved a gross margin of 66.9%, with expectations to maintain margins between 63% and 65% in 2026, demonstrating ongoing improvements in cost control and operational efficiency that will support future profitability.
- Robust Cash Flow: The company generated over $100 million in cash flow for 2025, with a pristine balance sheet showing over $1 billion in cash and securities, reflecting a strong financial foundation to support future investments and growth.
- Study Announcement: Natera has announced a Phase 2 study of its Signatera circulating tumor DNA test, aimed at evaluating the test's effectiveness in cancer patients, although specific data has yet to be disclosed, indicating the company's ongoing innovation in tumor detection.
- Market Potential: The initiation of this study may support Natera's further expansion in the personalized medicine and cancer monitoring markets, particularly as ctDNA testing gains increasing recognition and importance.
- Investor Interest: As the study progresses, investors will closely monitor the clinical outcomes of the Signatera test, which could impact Natera's market performance and stock price volatility, reflecting market expectations for new technologies.
- Industry Impact: Natera's research may not only drive its own business growth but also positively influence the entire tumor detection industry, fostering the development and application of related technologies.





