Exact Sciences expands noninvasive cancer testing in the GI space

WASHINGTON — In this exclusive industry perspective from Digestive Disease Week 2018, Kevin Conroy, CEO of Exact Sciences, discusses the company’s noninvasive Cologuard colon cancer test and recent data on a new noninvasive test for the detection of liver cancer.

“Exact Sciences’ mission is to help play a role in the eradication of colon cancer,” Conroy told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. “We developed Cologuard, which is a noninvasive stool DNA test that is the first and only stool DNA test approved by the FDA. It’s been used to screen over 1.1 million people in the U.S., and over 110,000 physicians use Cologuard.”

Conroy further elaborated on the results of a phase 2 clinical trial of a noninvasive test designed to detect liver cancer, presented at DDW this year.

“We know that with early detection, 3-year survival rates double from 30% to 60%,” Conroy said. “We just finished a large, case-control study showing 95% sensitivity and a specificity of 93%. This is a significant improvement over ultrasound and AFP testing that is used today.”

According to Conroy, Exact Sciences plans to complete a third clinical trial to establish the efficacy of the test as well as a prospective clinical trial.

“We hope that we’re in a position to deliver a similar test to Cologuard — a noninvasive, simple, easy test that can address this problem,” Conroy said.

Reference:
Kisiel JB, et al. Abstract 1044. Presented at: Digestive Disease Week; June 2-5, 2018; Washington, D.C.

Disclosure: Conroy is an employee of Exact Sciences.