Guardant Health Guardant360® CDx First FDA-Approved Liquid Biopsy for Comprehensive Tumor Mutation Profiling Across All Solid Cancers

Rhea-AI Summary

Guardant Health has received FDA approval for its Guardant360 CDx test, enabling tumor mutation profiling in patients with any solid malignant neoplasm. This test also serves as a companion diagnostic for non-small cell lung cancer patients with EGFR alterations, guiding treatment with Tagrisso. The approval is backed by data from over 5,000 samples, showing that patients identified via Guardant360 CDx have progression-free survival rates comparable to those from traditional methods. With over 150,000 tests performed and broad insurance coverage, this milestone enhances personalized cancer treatment.

Positive

• FDA approval of Guardant360 CDx is a significant regulatory milestone.
• The test improves access to personalized treatment options for cancer patients.
• Over 150,000 Guardant360 tests performed, indicating strong market acceptance.
• Broad insurance coverage covering over 170 million lives enhances accessibility.

Negative

• None.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH) announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Guardant360^® CDx for tumor mutation profiling, also known as comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), in patients with any solid malignant neoplasm (cancerous tumor). The Guardant360 CDx is also approved as a companion diagnostic to identify non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) alterations who may benefit from treatment with Tagrisso^® (osimertinib). Guardant360 CDx offers patients and clinicians a simple, faster blood test to help inform personalized treatment options.

The Guardant360 CDx FDA approval was based on clinical and analytical validation data from over 5,000 samples. In a retrospective analysis of data from pivotal phase III clinical trials, FLAURA and AURA3, non-small cell lung cancer patients identified for treatment with Tagrisso (osimertinib) using the Guardant360 CDx demonstrated progression-free survival rates consistent with those identified using traditional biomarker testing. Since being introduced as a laboratory developed test (LDT), the Guardant360 liquid biopsy LDT has become widely accepted for blood-based CGP with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications.¹ It has been used by more than 7,000 oncologists nationwide, and more than 150,000 Guardant360 tests have been performed to date.¹ The test is broadly covered by Medicare and many private payers, representing over 170 million lives.¹

“The FDA approval of Guardant360 CDx is a landmark decision, demonstrating the value liquid biopsy delivers to oncologists and more importantly, the patients they treat. Traditional tissue biopsy-based tumor profiling, which is often invasive and has longer turnaround times, can contribute to delays in starting treatment and possibly suboptimal therapy. We applaud the FDA for their collaborative review process and for approving the first comprehensive genomic profiling liquid biopsy test,” said Helmy Eltoukhy, Guardant Health CEO. “We are confident that our FDA approval will help accelerate wider adoption of guideline-recommended genomic profiling, increase the number of advanced cancer patients who receive potentially life-changing treatments, and pave the way for new companion diagnostic developments for the Guardant360 CDx.”

“Personalized medicines such as Tagrisso have been truly life-changing for many non-small cell lung cancer patients who have certain EGFR mutations and are most likely to benefit from this medicine,” said Dr. Jhanelle Gray, Senior Member and Chair, Department of Thoracic Oncology, Co-Leader, Chemical Biology & Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center. “It is crucial that all patients are comprehensively tested before starting treatment to ensure they receive the most appropriate personalized treatment option available.”

Each year, more than 600,000 people die from cancer in the United States,² many of whom may have benefitted from CGP to guide a more personalized treatment plan based on a growing list of effective CGP-informed targeted therapies. Already in 2020, more new targeted therapies have been approved by the FDA compared to previous years. Clinical studies show that patients receiving targeted therapies have improved progression-free survival and higher overall response rates relative to chemotherapy or immunotherapy.^3-9 Clinical adoption of targeted therapies lags behind medical guidelines due to several factors, including insufficient tissue for biopsy, which is the case for as many as 30 percent of solid cancer patients.^10-12

Since the company’s inception, Guardant Health has been dedicated to unlocking the potential of liquid biopsy to transform cancer by enabling precision oncology at all stages of the disease. The FDA approval of its Guardant360 CDx for tumor mutation profiling and as a companion diagnostic for Tagrisso (osimertinib) represents a critical milestone in the company’s mission to conquer cancer with data. The Guardant360 CDx is also being developed as a companion diagnostic for investigational products in development by other collaborators, including Amgen,  Janssen Biotech, Inc., and Radius Health, Inc.

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. The Guardant Health Oncology Platform leverages capabilities to drive commercial adoption, improve patient clinical outcomes and lower healthcare costs across all stages of the cancer care continuum. Guardant Health has launched liquid biopsy-based Guardant360^® and GuardantOMNI^® tests for advanced stage cancer patients. These tests fuel development of its LUNAR program, which aims to address the needs of early stage cancer patients with neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment selection, cancer survivors with surveillance, asymptomatic individuals eligible for cancer screening and individuals at a higher risk for developing cancer with early detection.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements regarding the potential benefits and advantages of the Guardant360 CDx, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Guardant Health’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2020, and in its other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, assumptions and information available to Guardant Health as of the date hereof, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors, and Guardant Health disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Guardant Health’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Investors are urged not to rely on any forward-looking statement in reaching any conclusion or making any investment decision about any securities of Guardant Health.

Investor Contact:
Carrie Mendivil
investors@guardanthealth.com

Media Contact:
Anna Czene
press@guardanthealth.com

Becky Lauer
becky.lauer@uncappedcommunications.com

REFERENCES

1. Guardant Health. Data on file. August 1, 2020.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm. Accessed August 1, 2020.
3. Shaw AT, Riely GJ, Bang Y-J, et al. Crizotinib in ROS1-rearranged advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): updated results, including overall survival, from PROFILE 1001. Ann Oncol. 2019;30(7):1121-1126.
4. Ramalingam SS, Gray JE, Ohe Y, et al. Osimertinib vs comparator EGFR-TKI as first-line treatment for EGFRm advanced NSCLC (FLAURA): Final overall survival analysis. Ann Oncol. 2019;30(5): v851-v934.
5. Garon EB, Hellmann MD, Costa EC, et al. Five-year long-term overall survival for patients with advanced NSCLC treated with pembrolizumab: Results from KEYNOTE-001. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(28):2518-2527.
6. Camidge DR, Dziadziuszko R, Peters S, et al. Updated Efficacy and Safety Data and Impact of the EML4-ALK Fusion Variant on the Efficacy of Alectinib in Untreated ALK-Positive Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Global Phase III ALEX Study. J Thorac Oncol. 2019;14(7):1233-1243.
7. https://www.hcp.novartis.com/products/tafinlar-mekinist/metastatic-nsclc/efficacy/. Accessed August 1, 2020.
8. Gadgeel SM, Garassino MC, Esteban E, et al. KEYNOTE-189: Updated OS and progression after the next line of therapy (PFS2) with pembrolizumab (pembro) plus chemo with pemetrexed and platinum vs placebo plus chemo for metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(suppl; abstr 9013).
9. Sandler A, Gray R, Perry MC, et al. Paclitaxel-carboplatin alone or with bevacizumab for non-small-cell lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2006;14;355(24):2542-2550.
10. Hagemann IS, Devarakonda S, Lockwood CM, et al. Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing in Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer. 2015;121:631-639.
11. Parsons HA, Beaver JA, Cimino-Mathews A, et al. Individualized Molecular Analyses Guide Efforts (IMAGE): A Prospective Study of Molecular Profiling of Tissue and Blood in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Res. 2017;23(2); 379–386.
12. Wyatt AW, Annala M, Aggarwal R, et al. Concordance of Circulating Tumor DNA and Matched Metastatic Tissue Biopsy in Prostate Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018;110(1):djx118

FAQ

What is the significance of Guardant Health's FDA approval for Guardant360 CDx?

The FDA approval allows Guardant360 CDx to be used for tumor mutation profiling, enabling personalized cancer treatment for patients.

How many samples supported the FDA approval of Guardant360 CDx?

The approval was based on clinical and analytical validation data from over 5,000 samples.

What types of cancer can Guardant360 CDx test for?

It is approved for any solid malignant neoplasm and specifically for non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR alterations.

How many tests of Guardant360 have been performed to date?

More than 150,000 Guardant360 tests have been performed.

What does the FDA approval of Guardant360 CDx mean for cancer patients?

It means improved access to faster and less invasive testing methods for personalized treatment options.