PALO ALTO, California.–Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today announced a strategic partnership with PathGroup, one of the nation’s leading partners to physicians, hospitals, and healthcare networks nationwide, to significantly expand the reach of Guardant’s FDA-approved Shield™ blood test. The partnership will bring Shield to more than 250 hospitals and health systems, over 15,000 PathGroup-affiliated physicians across 25 states, and allow more patients to benefit from Guardant’s industry-leading Shield blood test for early cancer detection through PathGroup’s large network of EMR hospital integrations and phlebotomists. More than five million patients each year receive testing through PathGroup.
PathGroup is also integrating Shield into its robust electronic ordering systems across its health system partners. This frictionless ordering experience will enable providers to add Shield seamlessly within their existing clinical workflow.
“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,” said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. “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.”
“We are proud to partner with Guardant Health to expand access to the cutting-edge technology Shield provides with a simple blood draw,” said Pranil K. Chandra, DO, FCAP, FASCP, PathGroup’s Senior Vice President and Chief Genomics Officer. “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.”
Shield is the first and only blood test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a primary screening option for CRC, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. CRC has a 91 percent five-year survival rate if caught in early stages. Yet, one out of three eligible adults in the U.S., over 50 million people, do not complete the recommended screening in part because they find other available options unpleasant or inconvenient. Through PathGroup’s network that includes phlebotomists and Patient Service Centers, more patients in community and rural settings will be able to access CRC screening through a simple blood draw from Shield.
In addition, through this strategic partnership, PathGroup’s digitally enabled histopathology lab and physician team will provide expertise in performing immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing for Guardant. Guardant’s IHC test suite provides comprehensive testing for key biomarkers in all solid tumors (such as lung, breast, gastric and ovarian cancers).
About Shield
Shield is a non-invasive, blood-based screening test that detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood. It is intended as a screening test for individuals at average risk for the disease, age 45 or older, and is not intended for individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer. The Shield test can be considered in a manner similar to guideline-recommended non-invasive CRC screening options and can be completed during any healthcare visit. A positive Shield result raises concern for the presence of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma and the patient should be referred for colonoscopy evaluation.
About PathGroup
Founded in 1965, PathGroup is a premier provider of anatomic, clinical, molecular, and digital pathology services in the United States. As a physician-led laboratory, PathGroup works seamlessly with customers to provide superior diagnostic services – a vital link in the cycle of patient relationships. PathGroup utilizes the latest in proprietary and industry standard technology to deliver fast, accurate results. The company provides clients with the highest quality of services available, consistently exceeding the expectations of physicians, employees, payers, and most importantly, patients. PathGroup is more than a laboratory – it is a trusted partner in health, driven by a mission to improve lives through diagnostic excellence and innovation. For more information, visit pathgroup.com.
Read the full press release here.