Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today announced that the Molecular and Clinical Genetics Panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Medical Devices Advisory Committee has strongly recommended FDA approval of the company’s Shield™ blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in adults age 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease.

The recommendation signals the advisory committee panel's consensus on Shield's safety and effectiveness with its proposed intended use, and their conclusion that its benefits as a primary non-invasive screening option outweigh any potential risks. The committee offers valuable perspective and non-binding recommendations for the FDA to factor in alongside other considerations during approval decisions. The FDA is expected to decide whether to approve Shield later this year.

“The advisory committee’s strong support for the approval of Shield reinforces the crucial role that a blood test option can have in improving CRC screening rates for those at average risk,” said AmirAli Talasaz, co-CEO of Guardant Health. “Despite the importance of detecting colorectal cancer early, there are notable barriers that can deter average-risk Americans from completing existing screening methods. Shield effectively detects cancer at an early stage when it is most treatable. Providing people with this blood test alongside other non-invasive stool tests can increase the rate of colorectal screening and potentially reduce preventable CRC deaths.”

The advisory committee panel members voted on three questions regarding the use of Shield in patients who meet the criteria specified in the proposed indication. They voted 8 to 1 favorably that there is reasonable assurance Shield is safe, 6 to 3 favorably that there is reasonable assurance Shield is effective, and 7 to 2 favorably that the benefits of Shield outweigh its risks.

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., yet it has a 91% five-year survival rate when caught at stage I (localized). Despite this, one out of three eligible Americans – 50 million people – are not being screened for CRC. Current primary non-invasive screening options include stool-based tests which have proven efficacy in detecting CRC; however, studies have consistently found that barriers such as handling stool and challenges performing the test impact adherence. Shield offers patients a choice that can be completed with a simple blood draw during a routine office visit.

“Sadly, 76% of deaths caused by colorectal cancer occur in individuals who are not up to date with their screening,” said Daniel Chung, MD, gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Clinical evidence and CRC screening guidelines acknowledge the value of offering choice to individuals at average risk for CRC and highlight the role of patient preference in test selection and CRC screening completion.”

The panel’s recommendation is based on Guardant’s premarket approval (PMA) application for Shield, including the results of the pivotal ECLIPSE study evaluating the performance of the test for detecting CRC in average-risk adults. Results from the study, published in the March 2024 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that Shield demonstrated 83% sensitivity for the detection of CRC, with 90% specificity for advanced neoplasia. This performance is within range of existing stool-based tests used as primary CRC screening options, in which overall sensitivity ranges from 67% to 92%.