On October 4, 2024 Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS), a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, reported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Cologuard Plus test, the company’s next generation multitarget stool DNA test (Press release, Exact Sciences, OCT 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234647027]). The Cologuard Plus test is now approved for adults ages 45 and older who are average risk for colorectal cancer (CRC).
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FDA approval was based on findings from the pivotal BLUE-C study, one of the largest prospective, head-to-head studies ever conducted in CRC screening. Among the subset of nearly 19,000 average-risk participants, the Cologuard Plus test demonstrated 95% overall cancer sensitivity and 43% sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions at 94% specificity with no findings on colonoscopy. 1 * Results from BLUE-C also show the Cologuard Plus test significantly outperformed an independent fecal immunochemical test (FIT**) for overall CRC sensitivity, treatable-stage CRC (stages I-III) sensitivity, high-grade dysplasia sensitivity, and advanced precancerous lesion sensitivity. 2
"To meaningfully improve outcomes in colorectal cancer, we must catch cancer early – when it is most treatable – and find advanced precancers, which can prevent cases of this cancer," said Thomas F. Imperiale, MD, professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute, and principal investigator for the BLUE-C study. "The high colorectal cancer sensitivity and specificity of the Cologuard Plus test gives me confidence in the test’s ability to do just that while simultaneously maintaining a low risk of false positives. This makes the Cologuard Plus test a strong option for first-line screening of average risk patients."
"Cologuard Plus sets a new performance standard in non-invasive colorectal cancer screening for patients," said Kevin Conroy, Chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. "Cologuard Plus detects cancers and precancerous polyps with even greater sensitivity than Cologuard while reducing false positives by more than 30 percent. This breakthrough comes at a critical time, when 60 million Americans are not up to date with screening."
CRC is often considered the most preventable, yet least prevented form of cancer. 3 It remains the second deadliest cancer in the United States. 4 The Cologuard Plus test will build on the success of the Cologuard test, which has been used more than 17 million times and helped meaningfully improve national CRC screening rates in the United States. 5,6 Upon launch in 2025, the Cologuard Plus test will be supported by Exact Sciences’ commercial organization and industry-leading ExactNexus technology platform, making ordering and resulting seamless for more than 350 health systems. The innovative, non-invasive test is anticipated to be covered by Medicare, included in the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) guidelines, and included within quality measures.
*The Cologuard Plus test demonstrates 91% specificity including non-advanced findings, 93% specificity including no findings, and 94% specificity when age-weighted to the U.S. population with no findings on colonoscopy.
**Refers to the commercially available Polymedco OC-Auto Micro 80iFOB Test
About the BLUE-C Study
BLUE-C is a multi-center, prospective study (NCT04144738) of more than 20,000 adults 40 years of age and older. The trial was designed to evaluate the performance of the Cologuard Plus test (multi-target stool DNA or mt-sDNA) and Exact Sciences’ blood-based colorectal cancer screening test. Using colonoscopy as a reference method, the robust study design directly compared the Cologuard Plus test and an independent fecal immunochemical test (FIT*). The BLUE-C study cohort is diverse and reflective of the U.S. population. About 40% of all participants identified as Hispanic or Latino, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Pacific Islander. This enrollment diversity helps ensure that the BLUE-C findings and the Cologuard Plus test are relevant for all screen-eligible individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity. 2
About the Cologuard Plus test
Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, the Cologuard Plus test features novel biomarkers and improved laboratory processes. It also incorporates enhanced sample stability components to provide patients more time to return their sample to Exact Sciences’ lab and increase the valid result rate. Exact Sciences is preparing for the commercialization of the Cologuard Plus test.
About the Cologuard test
The Cologuard test is a first-line colorectal cancer screening test for use in adults age 45 or older who are at average risk for the disease. It is included in national colorectal cancer screening guidelines by the American Cancer Society (2018) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2021).
The Cologuard test revolutionized colorectal cancer screening by providing a best-in-class, noninvasive testing option for those at average risk. The test looks for certain DNA markers and blood in the stool that are associated with colorectal cancer and precancer and was shown to effectively detect colorectal cancer and precancer in the pivotal DeeP-C study. The Cologuard test is easy to use, can be completed at home, and does not require any time off or special preparation.