Our best of 2024

It’s been another incredible year at Exact Sciences. We delivered vital answers to millions of patients, expanded our reach internationally and to more diverse audiences, and commemorated meaningful milestones. Plus, who knew sports and cancer screening awareness could have so much in common? Check out just a handful of our favorite moments from 2024. 

JANUARY

A YEAR OF ANNIVERSARIES 

This year marked 20 years since the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score^® test transformed breast cancer treatment. Founded in 1994, we also celebrated the 20th anniversary of PreventionGenetics, an Exact Sciences subsidiary specializing in rare disease testing. And lastly, the Cologuard^® test turned 10. Our teams celebrated big - looking back on all we've achieved and swapping stories from decades of innovation and impact. over the years and swapping stories from decades of innovation and impact.  

MARCH

CREATING COMMUNITY AT THE COLOGUARD CLASSIC BY EXACT SCIENCES 
The annual Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences golf tournament unites pro golfers, cancer advocates and survivors for a unique weekend where competition and compassion are equally revered. Held at Tucson’s La Paloma Country Club for the first time, this year’s tournament brought together 327 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, survivors, and loved ones from 32 states and three countries to connect, support one another, and of course, watch (and even play!) some pretty great golf.     

BOXING OUT COLON CANCER WITH A BASKETBALL GREAT 
For sports fans, March brings the excitement of college basketball’s biggest tournament. For cancer survivors, patients and healthcare professionals, March holds a different significance as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. With the help of basketball star Jamal Mashburn, these two communities came together to “Box Out Colon Cancer.” The national campaign, created in partnership with The Blue Hat Foundation, encouraged everyone 45 and older to screen for colon cancer. 

LAUNCH OF RISKGUARD™ HEREDITARY CANCER TEST  
We launched the Riskguard hereditary cancer test to help patients understand their genetic risk for certain cancers. With 10-15% of cancers linked to hereditary causes, this test uses a simple blood or saliva sample to evaluate genes associated with 10 common cancer types.^1,2 For those with positive results, Riskguard can guide early detection and risk-reducing strategies, including preventative medications and surgeries.  

APRIL

GROWING INTERNATIONALLY 
New colleagues based in Warsaw, Poland, will help us make a difference in the lives of patients and families around the world. In Norway, the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test received national approval for routine use after the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) concluded that the test is more effective and less costly compared to the traditional, non-genomic) approach for determining chemotherapy treatment. Another win for personalized medicine: the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended the expanded use of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test to more effectively target chemotherapy treatment for women who have hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2- negative (HER2-), early-stage breast cancer involving up to three positive nodes and who have been through the menopause. This recommendation has the potential to impact more than 3,000 additional breast-cancer patients in England.³ 

MAY

GREAT PLACE TO WORK^® CERTIFIED, AGAIN 
For a sixth-consecutive year, Exact Sciences was certified as a Great Place to Work. This distinction is a testament to the culture our employees have created —one of hard work, passion, respect, and support. This year, 85% of employees called Exact Sciences a Great Place to Work, which tops the average score for United States companies by 28 points. 

JULY

EXACT SCIENCES ATHLETES MAKE WAVES IN YEAR TWO 
Building on the success of the Exact Sciences Athletes Program launched in 2023, we welcomed a new class of athletes in 2024. Through name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements with Exact Sciences, student-athletes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison use their platforms to amplify important messages about preventive care and cancer screenings. They also engage in community give-back initiatives and career exploration activities. We were especially proud to cheer on Badger swimmer and Exact Sciences Athlete Phoebe Bacon, whose talents in the pool took her all the way to Paris, finishing fourth in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2024 Olympic Games. 

AUGUST

LAUNCH OF THE FALCON REGISTRY 
We're dedicated to unlocking the full potential of MCED testing. As part of those efforts, we launched the Falcon Registry real-world evidence study. This groundbreaking initiative will provide insights into the clinical performance and impact of our MCED test in development. The five-year study aims to enroll up to 25,000 patients. 

OCTOBER

COLOGUARD PLUS™ TEST RECEIVES FDA APPROVAL 
In October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Cologuard Plus test, Exact Sciences’ next-generation multi-target stool DNA test. Expected to be available in 2025, the Cologuard Plus test sets a new standard with 95% sensitivity for colorectal cancer and 43% for advanced precancerous lesions, all while maintaining 94% specificity.^4* The test will also minimize unnecessary follow-up colonoscopies by reducing the likelihood of a false-positive result. 

NOVEMBER

RAISING AWARENESS OF COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY 
Colon cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death among both Hispanic men and women, underscoring the urgent need for early screening.⁵ There are currently 17 million Hispanic people in the U.S. over the age of 45 and less than half (49%) of these eligible Hispanic adults undergo recommended screening.⁶  Colon cancer screening rates are even lower among younger Hispanics between the ages of 45 and 49. ⁷ To help address these outcomes, we launched several initiatives focused on raising awareness about the importance of CRC screenings for Latinos. The campaign included Spanish-language advertising, a panel discussion at the 2024 National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) conference, and a partnership with award-winning Hispanic actor, TV personality and philanthropist Carlos Ponce. 

As we look back on 2024, we’re proud of the progress we've made and our impact on patients' lives. The year’s achievements reflect the hard work, dedication, and passion of everyone at Exact Sciences. We look forward to continuing our fight against cancer, driving innovation, expanding our reach, and most importantly, keeping our patients first.  

*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. 

References

1. Esplin E et al. JCO Precis Oncol. 2022 PMID: 36108258.
2. Hart SN et al. Hum Mutat 2020 PMID: 32442341 
3. Tumour profiling tests to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decisions for lymph node-positive early breast cancer [DG58], NICE Resource impact tool, May 2024: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/dg58/resources/resourceimpact-template-excel-13425543901
4. Cologuard Plus Instructions for Use. Exact Sciences Corporation. Madison, WI.
5. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latino People 2021-2023
6. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025
7. Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for colorectal cancer - US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(19):1965-1977.