MADISON, Wis., Jan. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Exact Sciences
Corp. (Nasdaq: EXAS) today announced that the Blue Cross Blue
Shield Association's (BCBSA) Center for Clinical Effectiveness
"Evidence Street" recently released a positive review of Cologuard
to its members. BCBSA is a national federation of 36 Blue
Cross and Blue Shield companies that insure one in three Americans.
This continues the positive momentum for Cologuard, as coverage
increased by 67 percent in 2016 and nearly 163 million Americans
are now in health plans that cover the non-invasive colorectal
cancer screening option.
"Nearly two thirds of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies
already cover Cologuard," said Kevin
Conroy, Exact Sciences' chairman and CEO. "This review
affirms that Cologuard has a positive impact on health outcomes and
provides additional support for the remaining plans to offer their
members our patient-friendly, non-invasive colon cancer screening
option."
The BCBSA's Center for Clinical Effectiveness is an organization
that assesses the effectiveness of medical devices, procedures, and
biological products through comprehensive reviews and clinical
evidence. The Evidence Street assessment follows other
positive reviews of Cologuard, which is now included in the
recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and the
colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer
Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. This
assessment is influential for association members and non-members
who look to the Center for Clinical Effectiveness for
guidance. BCBSA does not endorse specific companies or
products nor make coverage decisions.
More than 70 percent of Cologuard's addressable population is
now in a health plan that covers the test. Coverage expanded by 62
million lives since June 2016, when
Cologuard was included as an A-graded test in the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force's final colorectal cancer screening
recommendations.
About Cologuard
Cologuard was approved by the FDA in
August 2014 and results from Exact
Sciences' prospective 90-site, point-in-time, 10,000-patient
pivotal trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine
in March 2014. Cologuard is included
in the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
(2016) and the American Cancer Society's (2014) colorectal cancer
screening guidelines. Stool DNA is included in the combined
screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society / U.S.
Multi-Society Task Force/American College of Radiology (2008), the
American College of Gastroenterology guidelines (2009) and the
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2016). Cologuard is
indicated to screen adults of either sex, 50 years or older, who
are at average risk for colorectal cancer. Cologuard is not for
everyone and is not a replacement for diagnostic colonoscopy or
surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals. False positives
and false negatives do occur. Any positive test result should be
followed by a diagnostic colonoscopy. Following a negative result,
patients should continue participating in a screening program at an
interval and with a method appropriate for the individual patient.
Cologuard performance when used for repeat testing has not been
evaluated or established. For more information about Cologuard,
visit www.CologuardTest.com. Rx Only.
About Exact Sciences Corp.
Exact Sciences Corp. is a
molecular diagnostics company focused on the early detection and
prevention of the deadliest forms of cancer. The company has
exclusive intellectual property protecting its non-invasive,
molecular screening technology for the detection of colorectal
cancer. For more information, please visit the company's website at
www.exactsciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on Twitter
@ExactSciences or find Exact Sciences on Facebook .
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by
those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on
certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and
expectations, can generally be identified by the use of
forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will,"
"should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate,"
"anticipate" or other comparable terms. All statements other than
statements of historical facts included in this news release
regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition,
operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking
statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among
others, statements we make regarding expected future operating
results, anticipated results of our sales and marketing efforts,
expectations concerning payor reimbursement and the anticipated
results of our product development efforts. Forward-looking
statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future
performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs,
expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business,
future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and
trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because
forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject
to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that
are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our
control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ
materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking
statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results
and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated
in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the
following: our ability to successfully and profitably market our
products and services; the acceptance of our products and services
by patients and healthcare providers; the willingness of health
insurance companies and other payors to cover Cologuard and
reimburse us for our performance of the Cologuard test; the amount
and nature of competition from other cancer screening products and
services; the effects of any healthcare reforms, including the
Affordable Care Act, or changes in healthcare pricing, coverage and
reimbursement; recommendations, guidelines and quality metrics
issued by various organizations such as the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force , the American Cancer Society , and the
National Committee for Quality Assurance regarding cancer screening
or our products and services; our ability to successfully develop
new products and services; our success establishing and maintaining
collaborative, licensing and supplier arrangements; our ability to
maintain regulatory approvals and comply with applicable
regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the
Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our most
recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently
filed Quarterly Report(s) on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation
to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written
or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of
new information, future developments or otherwise.
Contact:
J.P. Fielder
Exact Sciences Corp.
jpfielder@exactsciences.com
608-210-5220
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SOURCE EXACT SCIENCES CORP