Guardant Health® and COTA Partner to Explore the Costs, Benefits, and Barriers of Genotyping Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer with a Non-invasive Liquid Biopsy

NEW YORK, March 15, 2016 -- COTA Inc. and Guardant Health have partnered to provide new insights into the barriers to obtaining genomic profiling of driver mutations among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated in community settings. Although new genomically-targeted therapies may have significant benefit for patients, studies have demonstrated that only two-thirds of NSCLC patients undergo appropriate EGFR molecular testing for mutations amenable to FDA approved targeted therapies. Fewer than one-third of these patients undergo guideline-recommended comprehensive genotyping beyond EGFR and ALK testing. Through the collaboration, the companies will explore testing rates, repeat biopsies and their resulting complications, delays in result reporting, costs of invasive tissue biopsies, and other factors that preclude routine application of genotyping—which may significantly improve patient outcomes.

The Guardant360® comprehensive next generation sequencing test permits identification of all guideline-recommended somatic genomic mutations from a simple blood draw, and may obviate the need for repeat invasive tissue biopsies in advanced cancer patients. This collaboration will also include cost-benefit and outcomes analysis to define the clinical utility of a blood-based genotyping approach for treatment selection in patients with advanced NSCLC, which is of interest to both medical oncologists and managed care organizations.

Andrew Pecora M.D FACP CPE founder of COTA and inventor of the technology said, “In the era of personalized medicine, if we truly want to realize the dream of every patient receiving optimal care resulting in the best possible outcome at the best price, we must address the common, incomplete, up front diagnostic assessment of patients with cancer, including genomic profiling of their cancer.”

This collaboration utilizes COTA’s analytic expertise, proprietary technologies, and unique real-world data to evaluate current challenges in the diagnostic approach to patients with advanced NSCLC. COTA’s close relationship with provider organizations also permits iterative educational processes to improve physician practices and clinical/economic outcomes. COTA has developed a breakthrough, patented system for classifying cancer patients, the COTA Nodal Addresses (CNA), which enables a sensitive and precise detection of variance in chosen treatments, clinical outcomes and costs. COTA has unparalleled depth in the economics of oncology, and has extensive involvement in enabling value-based reimbursement models with various payers across the country.

“With the costs of cancer care rising every year, patients, health systems and payers are all demanding better care at lower costs,” said Helmy Eltoukhy, Guardant Health CEO. “New technologies should not only push the envelope in terms of clinical utility, they should also provide greater value. We’re excited about this partnership with COTA to help demonstrate this with real-world data.”

About COTA

Developed by world-leading oncologists, COTA has developed the unique, patented CNA (COTA Nodal Address) System to precisely classify cancer patients into meaningful clinical and prognostic cohorts. Using this sorting technique, COTA is able to account for the biologic variances of cancer, thus permitting more in-depth analyses of treatment variances. This enables doctors and health plans to improve patient care and move from fee-for-service to value-based reimbursement models. COTA arms providers, patients, and payers with the actionable, real-time insights needed to improve clinical outcomes, while reducing costs. Based in New York City, the Company’s mission is to enable optimal care for every cancer patient. To learn more about COTA, call (866) 648-3833 or visit www.oncota.com.

About Guardant360: Guardant360 is the first CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited comprehensive next generation sequencing-based liquid biopsy test indicated for cancer genomics. The 70-gene blood test is used in advanced cancer patients with visceral solid tumor cancers or metastases, and interrogates all four types of genomic alterations. The test is used to prevent repeat invasive biopsies when cancer has progressed or recurred despite treatment, or when an initial biopsy is unobtainable or has insufficient tissue. It is the only ctDNA test that includes all guideline-recommended somatic genomic targets in a single test. Unlike hotspot tests, Guardant360 sequences each covered exon completely to avoid missing rare mutations. Based on the tumor genomic profile, clinicians receive a report of actionable genomic alterations and a list of FDA-approved treatments and clinical trials for which the patient could be eligible. Guardant360 has undergone extensive analytical and clinical validation and is supported by publications with leading cancer centers globally. 

About Guardant Health Guardant Health is focused on developing breakthrough diagnostic technologies that can transform cancer from a silent killer into a manageable disease. Guardant Health was founded in 2012 by a team of serial entrepreneurs with expertise in next-generation sequencing, single-cell genomics and cancer diagnostics. The team is committed to improving patient health through technology that addresses long-standing unmet needs in oncology.

Contact: 
Steve Brazell
Phone Number: 212-300-6026