For this special episode of the Astonishing Healthcare podcast, Andrew Barnell, CEO of Geneoscopy, joins Justin Venneri in the studio for an insightful discussion about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in observance of National CRC Awareness Month! Andrew explains how he and his "very talented" sister, Erica Barnell, MD, PhD, co-founded Geneoscopy to develop diagnostic tests using RNA biomarkers extracted from stool samples. Their newly FDA-approved test, ColoSense™, provides a non-invasive alternative to traditional colonoscopies.
Barnell highlights the rising incidence of CRC in younger adults, which prompted guideline changes to lower the recommended screening age to 45. He stresses the urgent need for increased screening awareness and greater access to screening tools, noting that employers can help overcome barriers to screening through education and by encouraging engagement in wellness programs. Other topics covered include:
- Over 135,000 people are diagnosed with CRC every year, and despite CRC being one of the most preventable cancers with good long-term survival rates following treatment, 50,000 people die from it annually.
- Preventive screenings are increasingly covered with no patient out-of-pocket costs, but insurers' expenses are rising.
- Increasing early screening is crucial: 30-40% of eligible individuals remain unscreened, particularly in the 45-49 age group.
- Geneoscopy's decentralized clinical trial and overall use of technology to conduct its pivotal FDA approval study virtually, which increased patient diversity and efficiency.
- Regulatory challenges remain: FDA approval is just one step; Medicare coverage and guideline inclusion are key hurdles.
- Bringing targeted therapy approaches to autoimmune diseases like IBD to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs is Geneoscopy's next goal.
Related Content
Reference Materials/Other Links (courtesy of Geneoscopy)
- Projected Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Novel Molecular Blood-Based or Stool-Based Screening Tests for Colorectal Cancer. Ladabaum U, Mannalithara A, Schoen RE, Dominitz JA, Lieberman D. Ann Intern Med. 2024 Dec;177(12):1610-1620. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-24-00910. Epub 2024 Oct 29. PMID: 39467291.
- Colorectal Cancer—Patient Version. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Productivity savings from colorectal cancer prevention and control strategies. Bradley CJ, Lansdorp-Vogelaar I, Yabroff KR, Dahman B, Mariotto A, Feuer EJ, Brown ML. Am J Prev Med. 2011 Aug;41(2):e5-e14. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.04.008. PMID: 21767717; PMCID: PMC3139918.
- Follow Geneoscopy on LinkedIn
For more information about Capital Rx and this episode, please visit Capital Rx Insights.
