Proteomic test helps inform and guide end-of-life treatment decisions
BOULDER, Colo., April 03, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biodesix®, Inc. announced today new data demonstrating that use of the VeriStrat® test in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) reduces the aggregate costs of end-of-life treatment while improving survival and quality of life. The data were presented at the American College of Medical Quality (MQ2017) annual meeting, which was held March 29 - April 1 in Washington, DC.
The VeriStrat test helps guide treatment decisions for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without an EGFR-sensitizing mutation. The blood-based test classifies patients into two categories, VeriStrat-Good and VeriStrat-Poor. Extensive clinical data demonstrate that patients classified as VeriStrat-Good have a more favorable prognosis and benefit from receiving active treatment, whereas patients classified as VeriStrat-Poor have a more aggressive cancer, a less favorable prognosis, and exhibit no significant response to EGFR-TKIs.
In the current study, use of the VeriStrat test saved an average of $1,050 per patient while improving survival outcomes (as compared to patients treated without the use of the test). This cost savings was amplified in patients with a test result of VeriStrat-Poor; for this group, testing saved more than $10,000 per patient through the avoidance of ineffective therapies.
Researchers assessed the clinical and cost utility of VeriStrat by comparing outcomes in patients treated both with and without the test. Specifically, the study evaluated the impact of the VeriStrat test on treatment recommendations, and how these recommendations impacted both clinical outcomes and lifelong health costs.
“Data published recently demonstrate that use of the VeriStrat test resulted in an 89 percent decrease in ineffective treatments for patients who tested VeriStrat-Poor,” said David Brunel, CEO of Biodesix. The research presented at MQ2017 last week builds on this finding to demonstrate that there are very tangible clinical and cost outcomes associated with more effective, informed treatment decisions.”
Researchers found that after receiving VeriStrat test results, physicians changed treatment recommendations for about 30 percent of all study patients and for more than 80 percent of patients with VeriStrat-Poor results. These changes were associated with improvements in overall survival of 0.7 months.
The use of the VeriStrat test decreased drug acquisition costs by $6,392. VeriStrat testing resulted in a net health care savings of $1,050 per patient, including the cost of treating adverse events, increased cost of surveillance (due to increased life expectancy) and the cost of testing.
“Information provided by the VeriStrat test can help facilitate physician-patient conversations about prognosis, treatment next steps and best supportive care,” said Brunel. “The new data presented here suggest that the shared decisions made during these conversations can have real, tangible benefits for patients and the healthcare system.”
The MQ2017 poster “Precision Medicine: Estimated Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Using a Predictive and Prognostic Biomarker to Avoid Ineffective Therapies in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer” is available on the Biodesix website.
About the VeriStrat test:
The VeriStrat® test is a predictive and prognostic blood-based proteomic test for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The test is used to assess disease aggressiveness by characterizing host response to the tumor, classifying patients as either VeriStrat-Good or VeriStrat-Poor.
VeriStrat and Biodesix are registered trademarks of Biodesix, Inc. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
About Biodesix
Biodesix® is a molecular diagnostics company advancing the development of innovative blood tests in oncology to enable precision medicine. Biodesix discovers, develops and commercializes multivariate protein and genomic diagnostic blood tests, including the GeneStrat® and VeriStrat® tests, that deliver results within 72 hours. The company is changing the standard of care by providing physicians with diagnostic tests for better therapeutic guidance, more accurate prognosis and enhanced disease monitoring to improve patient outcomes. At the forefront of precision medicine, Biodesix is developing new blood tests to identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapies. In addition to developing novel diagnostics independently, the company partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics for use with therapeutic agents.
For more information about Biodesix, please visit www.Biodesix.com.
Biodesix Contact: Rachel Biederman 720-214-5774
