Zydus Lifesciences (Zydus) and Guardant Health have signed an agreement to make the Shield Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD) test available in India, for which Zydus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Apollo Hospitals to offer the test in the territory.
The Shield MCD test is a methylation-based blood test for the detection of multiple cancer types including bladder, colorectal, breast, prostate, oesophageal, gastric, liver, lung, ovarian and pancreas cancer in individuals aged 45 or older and who are at typical average risk for cancer. With just a blood draw, the test screens for 10 of the most common cancers, many of which have high mortality rates in India. The test has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognising its potential to provide more effective screening for cancers than existing options.
Speaking on this development, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "At Apollo, we have long believed that the most effective healthcare is proactive healthcare. The future of medicine lies not only in treating disease, but in preventing it and detecting it at its earliest, most treatable stages.”
Dr Reddy also highlighted that cancer continues to be one of the greatest health challenges facing societies worldwide, and expanding access to timely, reliable screening is critical to reducing its impact.
Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences, said, “As India’s leading oncology company, we are reimagining the role of diagnostics in cancer care. We are pleased to partner with Apollo Hospitals and Guardant Health to introduce Shield MCD in India, expanding access to an innovative screening technology that complements existing screening pathways.”
Dr Patel also noted that through focused awareness initiatives, we continue to encourage timely screening and proactive healthcare with our range of companion diagnostics. By expanding access to precision diagnostics, we stand committed to unlocking new possibilities in patient care.”
Simranjit Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Guardant Health AMEA added, "We are pleased to bring the Shield Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD) test to India through Apollo Cancer Centres and our longstanding commercial partner Zydus Lifesciences. Earlier detection has the potential to transform cancer outcomes and Shield MCD represents an important advancement in helping identify cancer-associated signals through a single blood draw.”
Cancer accounts for nearly nine per cent of total deaths related to non-communicable diseases in India. In 2022, over 1.41 million individuals were diagnosed with cancer, with over 900,000 deaths. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, while oral cancer is the top cancer among men. However, screening rates in India are low with wide disparity among states. Southern and western regions report the highest cancer screening coverage while northern, central and northeastern regions lag. |
