THE PIPELINE

The Exact Sciences’ pipeline of new cancer detection tests is expanding at a rapid pace. We’re applying the same innovative problem-solving approach that resulted in the multitarget stool DNA test (Cologuard) to tackle a wide array of cancer screening challenges.

What’s been critical in achieving this ambitious quest:

  • The scientific lessons learned through the development of Cologuard
  • The application of our technologies to other cancers, yet adapting them to address the detection of precancerous/cancerous DNA in blood samples
  • Our proven multimarker approach to achieve the analytical sensitivity needed to discriminate between normal and cancerous samples
  • Our highly productive and successful partnership with clinicians and scientists at Mayo Clinic

“So much of the progress we’ve made so far can be characterized as an amalgamation of solving problems, every step of the way.
Why not continue to apply this approach as we persue a pipeline of early cancer detection tests?”

Dr. Graham Lidgard, Chief Science Officer

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW?

Exact Sciences continues to pursue the development of other cancer detection tests, and we have multiple pipeline programs running in parallel. One of the most promising opportunities is in lung cancer detection. Our platform is proving to differentiate between benign lung nodules and malignant lung cancer, currently a clinical conundrum that eludes pulmonologists and results in thousands of unnecessary invasive biopsies annually. The current diagnostic options are not only invasive, but expensive, and the opportunity for a highly sensitive blood-based biomarker test to distinguish between a benign and cancerous lung nodule is significant.

Another exciting program in our pipeline is the development of a test to improve liver cancer surveillance. Current liver cancer surveillance tests detect early stage liver cancer less than 65% of the time; yet the blood-based biomarker test we are developing has demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity, paired with equally high specificity. We have an opportunity to meet a tremendous need and impact the current state of liver cancer surveillance through a more accurate non-invasive test.