Guardant Health shares rise on VA coverage for cancer test

Published 25/03/2025, 21:14
© Reuters.

Investing.com -- Shares of Guardant Health , Inc. (NASDAQ:GH) rose 2% following news that its Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening will now be covered for U.S. veterans and eligible family members as part of the VA Community Care Network. The coverage includes no copay for average-risk individuals aged 45 to 84, marking the first extension of coverage beyond the Medicare population for the Shield test.

The VA network coverage, which follows Medicare’s coverage approval in August 2024, is significant as it is the first to include individuals between the ages of 45 and 64. The VA Community Care Network, which serves approximately 9.1 million beneficiaries, offers community-based healthcare services to veterans.

Guardant Health’s co-CEO, AmirAli Talasaz, expressed pride in the potential lifesaving impact of the Shield blood test for veterans and their families. This coverage decision by the VA represents a broader opportunity for the company to help detect colorectal cancer early when it is most treatable.

The FDA approved the Shield test in July 2024 as the first blood test for primary colorectal cancer screening. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently granted the Shield test Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Test (ADLT) status for this purpose. The test is approved for average-risk individuals aged 45 and older and can be ordered by any prescribing healthcare provider.

The positive market response to Guardant Health’s stock is attributable to the expansion of insurance coverage for the Shield test, which is expected to increase its adoption and usage among a wider population. The company’s efforts to broaden the impact of its screening test align with its mission to enhance early cancer detection. For more information on the Shield blood test, interested parties can visit www.ShieldCancerScreen.com.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.