US-based precision oncology company Guardant Health has teamed up with PathGroup to extend its Shield blood test to over 250 hospitals across 25 states in the US.
Shield has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in people aged 45 years or above, at average risk.
The collaboration aims to make Shield test accessible to more than 15,000 physicians affiliated with PathGroup, enhancing early cancer detection.
The blood test is set to provide a non-invasive alternative for CRC detection and improve screening rates by being more accessible.
Guardant Health co-CEO AmirAli Talasaz said: “This partnership with PathGroup represents an important milestone in our mission to bring the pleasant and convenient screening option of Shield to as many people as possible and accelerate our commercial distribution plans.
“By combining Shield’s lifesaving innovation with PathGroup’s extensive physician and hospital network, we can bring the benefits of Shield to millions of patients who might otherwise face barriers to screening.”
PathGroup plans to incorporate Shield into its existing electronic ordering systems, streamlining the process for physicians.
Its network of phlebotomists and patient service centres would improve access to the blood test, including in rural areas, via simple blood draws.
In addition, PathGroup’s expertise in histopathology and immunohistochemistry testing will support immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing capabilities, said Guardant.
PathGroup senior vice president and chief genomics officer Pranil Chandra said: “We are proud to partner with Guardant Health to expand access to the cutting-edge technology Shield provides with a simple blood draw.
“This collaboration will not only simplify the workflow for providers but also help deliver life-saving early detection to patients across the communities we serve.”
Earlier this year, Guardant and Viz.ai, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered disease detection company, entered into a partnership to address lung cancer care challenges.
