REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), announced that its market leading liquid biopsy, Guardant360®, will be a covered benefit for the members of the health plans associated with eviCore, a technology assessment company. The test will be considered medically necessary to assist in selecting therapy for patients with advanced lung cancer. When the eviCore policy becomes effective July 1, Guardant360 will have added coverage for over 38 million lives in 2019, including with Health Care Service Corporation in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, Independence Blue Cross, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, and Government Employees Health Association/Federal Employees Program. This will increase total lung cancer coverage for Guardant360 to more than 150 million Americans, including for all Medicare beneficiaries, members of Cigna, Blue Shield of California, UPMC Health Plan, BCBS FEP (Federal Employees Program), and many others.
Since its introduction in 2014, Guardant360 has been ordered by more than 6,000 oncologists for more than 80,000 patients with advanced cancer to help select treatment. The best-in-class performance of the assay is evidenced by more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, which address its analytical validity, clinical validity, and clinical utility in multiple tumor types.
The coverage decision by eviCore follows the publication of a recent prospective study supporting the use of Guardant360 to guide the first-line treatment of patients with advanced lung cancer. In an independent review of Guardant360 published in JAMA Oncology, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that Guardant360 has sensitivity and detection rates comparable to tissue testing, and that patients responded to the treatment selected based on Guardant360 testing.
About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on helping conquer cancer globally through use of its proprietary blood tests, vast data sets, and advanced analytics. Its Guardant Health Oncology Platform is designed to leverage its capabilities in technology, clinical development, regulatory and reimbursement to drive commercial adoption, improve patient clinical outcomes, and lower healthcare costs. In pursuit of its goal to manage cancer across all stages of the disease, Guardant Health has launched multiple liquid biopsy-based tests, Guardant360 and GuardantOMNI, for advanced stage cancer patients, which fuel its LUNAR development programs for recurrence and early detection. Since its launch in 2014, Guardant360 has been used by more than 6,000 oncologists, over 50 biopharmaceutical companies, and all 28 of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network centers.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, such as statements about the reimbursement for Guardant360. Such statements reflect Guardant Health’s current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions. Actual results may vary materially from forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, known and unknown to Guardant Health as of the date hereof, such as those discussed in Guardant Health’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption “Risk Factors” in its Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2018, and in its subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Guardant Health as of the date hereof, and should not be relied upon as representing Guardant Health’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Guardant Health disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Lynn Lewis or Carrie Mendivil
investors@guardanthealth.com
Media Contact:
Josh Wein or Ian Stone
press@guardanthealth.com
Source: Guardant Health, Inc.