Guardant Health, a leader in precision oncology, has announced a strategic partnership with PathGroup, one of the largest physician- and hospital-focused diagnostic networks in the U.S. The collaboration will significantly expand access to Shield™, Guardant’s FDA-approved blood test for early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection.
Through this partnership, Shield will reach more than 250 hospitals, over 15,000 PathGroup-affiliated physicians across 25 states, and millions of patients. PathGroup serves over five million patients annually and will integrate Shield into its electronic ordering systems, enabling seamless adoption within existing clinical workflows.
"This partnership with PathGroup represents an important milestone in our mission to bring the pleasant and convenient screening option of Shield to as many people as possible and accelerate our commercial distribution plans," said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. "By combining Shield’s lifesaving innovation with PathGroup’s extensive physician and hospital network, we can bring the benefits of Shield to millions of patients who might otherwise face barriers to screening."
"We are proud to partner with Guardant Health to expand access to the cutting-edge technology Shield provides with a simple blood draw," said Dr. Pranil K. Chandra, DO, FCAP, FASCP, PathGroup’s Senior Vice President and Chief Genomics Officer. "This collaboration will not only simplify the workflow for providers but also help deliver life-saving early detection to patients across the communities we serve."
Shield is the first and only FDA-approved blood test for primary CRC screening, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Despite a 91% five-year survival rate when caught early, more than 50 million eligible adults skip recommended screenings due to inconvenience or discomfort. With PathGroup’s wide network of phlebotomists and Patient Service Centers, Shield will improve access in both community and rural settings.
Additionally, PathGroup’s digitally enabled histopathology lab and physician expertise will support Guardant with immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing, offering comprehensive biomarker analysis across solid tumors, including lung, breast, gastric, and ovarian cancers.