The first patient has joined Exact Sciences‘ registrational multi-cancer early detection (MCED) Falcon registry real-world evidence (RWE) study.  

The multi-site study aims to enrol up to 25,000 participants aged 50-80 with no history of cancer, who will participate in annual MCED testing for three years and two additional years of follow-up data collection. The study will evaluate the clinical performance, patient and provider experience, and psychological impact of MCED testing over five years. 

This study builds on successful data from the ASCEND-2 study, announced at the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) annual meeting in San Diego in April 2024. The blood test achieved 50.9% sensitivity at 98.5% specificity across 21 cancer types. Additionally, sensitivity rose to 63.7% in the six types with the shortest five-year survival rate, including lung, ovary, and pancreas.

Exact’s MCED diagnostic uses a single blood draw to analyse circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) for cancer-specific mutations. It focuses on methylation and protein biomarkers that capture common, cancer-associated signals, which are released into the blood through different biological mechanisms.

This study will provide valuable insight to further inform the development and commercialisation of the company’s future MCED test and support discussions with regulatory agencies, payers, and guideline bodies, said Exact. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised an investigational device exemption (IDE) for Exact’s MCED test last month, allowing its use in the Falcon Registry. 

Wisconsin-based Exact has a range of different diagnostic tests, including Cologuard for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. According to Exact, Cologuard has contributed around $22bn in cost savings to the US healthcare system since its inception in 2014. The company teamed up with Mayo Clinic in April 2024.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The study’s principal investigator Ronan Kelly said: “With this important work, we aim to intercept cancer earlier than ever before. We are eager to do our part in the national effort to decrease cancer mortality by 50% over the next 25 years, as outlined in the US Government’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. This important study is helping advance proactive cancer detection efforts, and we are excited to help close gaps in existing cancer screening programmes.”