Updated guidelines establish a dedicated framework for routine MRD assessment across the multiple myeloma patient journey

clonoSEQ named as an FDA-cleared assay for MRD assessment, with 10^-6sensitivity now preferred

SEATTLE, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (NASDAQ:ADPT), a commercial stage biotechnology company that aims to translate the genetics of the adaptive immune system into clinical products to diagnose and treat disease, today highlighted significant updates to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines^®) for Multiple Myeloma that further establish highly sensitive minimal (or measurable) residual disease (MRD) assessment as an important tool in myeloma care.

For the first time, NCCN Guidelines^® include a dedicated page that outlines Principles of MRD Testing, underscoring the importance of MRD testing in modern myeloma management. The new page, MYEL-E, gives clinicians a clearer, more consistent approach to using MRD testing in patients. The update builds on years of clinical evidence demonstrating that MRD negativity is associated with longer progression-free survival and overall survival. By bringing MRD testing recommendations together in one place, the updated guidelines may help support more informed conversations between patients and their care teams about disease status, treatment decisions, and ongoing monitoring.

Significant additions to the NCCN MRD recommendations include:

Bone marrow-based MRD assessment is recommended using next-generation sequencing (NGS) with an FDA-approved assay such as clonoSEQ^® or multicolor flow cytometry. Notably, clonoSEQ is the only assay specifically named in the NCCN Guidelines.
10^-6 is stated as the preferred sensitivity for MRD testing due to its higher prognostic value, with 10^-5 described as the minimum recommended sensitivity.
Recommended timepoints for MRD assessment have been expanded to include annual testing during maintenance, and after later lines of therapy including after CAR T-cell therapy, reinforcing the role of MRD as a longitudinal measure of disease status.

Most importantly, the updated guidelines reflect the growing clinical utility of MRD assessment in helping clinicians evaluate response to therapy and personalize treatment decisions. The guidelines note that MRD negativity and sustained MRD negativity can help guide treatment escalation, de-escalation, and maintenance therapy as part of a shared decision-making process with patients. Conversely, rising MRD positivity may prompt, at a minimum, closer monitoring and clinical evaluation.

"The updated NCCN Guidelines represent an important step forward in how we use MRD in multiple myeloma. Greater sensitivity matters, as it is associated with clinical outcomes, and assessing MRD at a sensitivity of 10⁻⁶ gives us a more precise understanding of the depth of response," said Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, director of the Sylvester Myeloma Institute at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "Equally important is the recognition that MRD should be followed over time. Sustained MRD negativity is more informative than a single negative result. Incorporating MRD into decisions about treatment duration, including the possibility of discontinuing therapy in selected patients with sustained MRD negativity, moves the field toward a more individualized approach in which we aim not only to achieve deep responses, but also to avoid unnecessary treatment."

"NCCN Guidelines play an important role in advancing the standard of care for patients, particularly by helping community oncologists access and apply the latest guidance," said Susan Bobulsky, Chief Commercial Officer, MRD, Adaptive Biotechnologies. "The updated myeloma guidelines provide more detailed recommendations for MRD testing timepoints and frequency, helping clinicians incorporate MRD assessment into care throughout the myeloma treatment continuum. These updates underscore clonoSEQ’s established leadership in hematology MRD testing and reflect the continued evolution of the field toward MRD-informed patient care."

The latest NCCN Guidelines can be accessed here.

About clonoSEQ

clonoSEQ^® is the first and only FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test for detecting and tracking minimal (or measurable) residual disease (MRD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) using bone marrow, and in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) using blood or bone marrow. clonoSEQ is also available in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and other lymphoid cancers and specimen types as a CLIA-validated laboratory-developed test (LDT). clonoSEQ is covered by Medicare for MM, CLL, ALL, DLBCL and MCL.

clonoSEQ identifies and quantifies DNA sequences in malignant cells—detecting one cancer cell in one million healthy cells—to help clinicians and researchers assess and monitor MRD with precision over time. It delivers standardized, sensitive results that inform treatment decisions, predict outcomes, and detect relapses earlier. clonoSEQ has been extensively studied in more than 300 peer-reviewed publications.

clonoSEQ is CE-marked under the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR). For intended use details in the EU, see the instructions for use, available on request.

To review the FDA-cleared uses of clonoSEQ, visit clonoSEQ.com/technical-summary.

About Adaptive Biotechnologies

Adaptive Biotechnologies ("we" or "our") is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on harnessing the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We believe the adaptive immune system is nature’s most finely tuned diagnostic and therapeutic for most diseases, but the inability to decode it has prevented the medical community from fully leveraging its capabilities. Our proprietary immune medicine platform reveals and translates the massive genetics of the adaptive immune system with scale, precision, and speed. We apply our platform to partner with biopharmaceutical companies, inform drug development, and develop clinical diagnostics across our two business areas: Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) and Immune Medicine. Our commercial products and clinical pipeline enable the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Our goal is to develop and commercialize immune-driven clinical products tailored to each individual patient.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our ability to develop, commercialize and achieve market acceptance of our current and planned products and services, our research and development efforts, and other matters regarding our business strategies, use of capital, results of operations and financial position, and plans and objectives for future operations.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "ongoing" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We caution you that forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections regarding the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result, the forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

Note: NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.

ADAPTIVE INVESTORS

Karina Calzadilla, Vice President, Investor Relations and FP&A

201-396-1687

investors@adaptivebiotech.com

ADAPTIVE MEDIA

Erica Jones, Associate Corporate Communications Director

206-279-2423

media@adaptivebiotech.com