Partnership Details
Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. has an exclusive agreement with Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH) to make the Shield™ Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD) test available in India. Under this arrangement, Zydus has signed an MoU with Apollo Hospitals to offer the test in the territory.
Product Information
The Shield MCD test is a methylation-based blood test for the detection of multiple cancer types including:
- Bladder cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Oesophageal cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreas cancer
The test is intended for individuals aged 45 or older who are at typical average risk for cancer. It requires just a blood draw and screens for 10 of the most common cancers, many of which have high mortality rates in India.
Regulatory Status
The test has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognizing its potential to provide more effective screening for cancers than existing options. The FDA designation referenced eight cancer types—bladder, colorectal, oesophageal, gastric, liver, lung, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer—in individuals aged 45 or older who are at typical average risk for cancer.
Management Commentary
Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group stated: "Our collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences marks an important milestone in advancing accessible, patient-friendly cancer screening solutions for the people of India. By bringing together innovation, scientific excellence, and a shared commitment to better health outcomes, we can empower individuals to take charge of their health, enable earlier diagnosis, and significantly improve the chances of successful treatment."
Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. 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."
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."
Market Context and Need
Cancer accounts for nearly nine percent of total deaths related to non-communicable diseases in India. In 2022:
- Over 1.41 million individuals were diagnosed with cancer
- Over 900,000 deaths occurred due to cancer
- Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women
- Oral cancer is the top cancer among men
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.
Company Backgrounds
Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. employs over 30,000 people worldwide, including 1,500 scientists engaged in R&D. The group has introduced several innovative, first-in-class products in the market for treating unmet healthcare needs.
Apollo Hospitals is the world's largest integrated healthcare platform with over 10,900 beds across 78 hospitals, 7,200+ pharmacies, 300+ clinics, and 2,500 diagnostic centres. It has performed over 300,000 angioplasties and 200,000 surgeries.
Guardant Health AMEA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardant Health, a precision oncology company founded in 2012 focused on cancer screening and monitoring.
Financial Impact
Financial impact not quantified in the disclosure.