Genentech Oncology
Featured Initiative: Reducing Disparities Through Public Policy
Educating Policymakers About Patient Access to Biomarker Testing
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK AND OTHER HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY GROUPS
Access to biomarker testing helps to ‘level the playing field’ for all people regardless of age, race, and socioeconomic status and ensures more patients can access precision medicines.
—Joy Russell, Vice President, External Affairs, Genentech
Problem
- Targeted cancer therapies require biomarker testing of patient blood or tissue samples1
- A targeted or precision approach is associated with improved patient outcomes, including higher response rates, longer survival, and a better safety profile compared with conventional treatments2
- Many private health plans and Medicaid programs do not provide adequate coverage, particularly for comprehensive biomarker testing1
An example of how we’re addressing the problem
In collaboration with ACS CAN, who leads a coalition of patient and provider advocacy groups to advance policy change, we are educating state policymakers about the clinical value of comprehensive biomarker testing, with the aim of gaining support for legislation that improves equitable access to testing.
We support state and federal policies that:
- Provide access to biomarker testing supported by clinical guidelines or peer-reviewed scientific evidence
- Eliminate delays in coverage and gaps in access to biomarker testing
- Enable payers to keep insurance coverage policies up to date with scientific advancements
Policymakers Are Hearing The Call to Action
Since 2021, more than a dozen states have passed new laws that require Medicaid and/or state-regulated commercial insurers to cover biomarker testing when it is supported by clinical evidence.3
Related case study: Shining a Light on Disparities in Access to Comprehensive Biomarker Testing
Genentech forged a first-of-its-kind collaboration with OneOncology, with the goal of developing, testing, and sharing solutions to both provide personalized cancer care in communities nationwide and reduce disparities in access to that care.
View the full case study to learn more about the learnings from this collaboration.
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American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Improving access to biomarker testing. September 2020. Accessed August 11, 2023. https://www.fightcancer.org/policy-resources/improving-access-biomarker-testing
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Improving access to biomarker testing. September 2020. Accessed August 11, 2023. https://www.fightcancer.org/policy-resources/improving-access-biomarker-testing
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Schwaederle M, Zhao M, Lee J, et al. Impact of precision medicine in diverse cancers: a meta-analysis of phase II clinical trials. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(32):3817-3825. 10.1200/JCO.2015.61.5997
Schwaederle M, Zhao M, Lee J, et al. Impact of precision medicine in diverse cancers: a meta-analysis of phase II clinical trials. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(32):3817-3825. 10.1200/JCO.2015.61.5997
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Genentech, Inc. Getting the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. 2023. Accessed December 13, 2023. https://www.gene.com/about-us/policy-advocacy/biomarker-testing
Genentech, Inc. Getting the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. 2023. Accessed December 13, 2023. https://www.gene.com/about-us/policy-advocacy/biomarker-testing
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