Guardant Health to Introduce Blood-Based Cancer Test in India with Zydus Lifesciences

A new blood-based test aimed at detecting multiple cancers at an early stage is set to be introduced in India by Guardant Health, in collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences. The move marks an expansion of the company’s diagnostic focus in the country, which has so far centered on liquid biopsy services for advanced cancers.

The test, known as 'Shield,' is designed to identify a broad spectrum of cancers, including gastric, esophageal, liver, colorectal, ovarian, lung, pancreatic, bladder, breast, and prostate, through a single blood sample. It builds on Guardant Health’s existing FDA-approved blood test for colorectal cancer screening and reflects a shift towards early-stage detection.

India has been identified as one of the initial markets for the rollout. The decision comes against the backdrop of a growing cancer burden in the country, where a significant proportion of cases are diagnosed at later stages. Current estimates suggest that 60–70% of cancers in India are detected late, which affects treatment outcomes.

"Through Zydus, Guardant is now in discussions with around 10 hospital chains, wellness centers, and laboratories to roll out the MCD test," said Singh.

At present, only a few cancers have widely adopted screening methods, such as mammography for breast cancer, colonoscopy for colorectal cancer, and low-dose CT scans for lung cancer. Many other cancer types lack standard screening options, contributing to delayed diagnosis.

“This means many of these cancers are detected late, when treatment is significantly more expensive and outcomes are poorer... The goal is to enable a single test that can detect multiple cancers early,” said Singh.

The company’s earlier collaboration with Ahmedabad-based Zydus Lifesciences, established in 2023, focused on facilitating the collection of liquid and tissue biopsy samples for advanced-stage cancers across solid tumors. The introduction of a multi-cancer early detection panel extends that partnership into a different segment of cancer diagnostics.

"Early detection significantly improves outcomes and reduces treatment costs,” he said.

According to Singh, improving early detection rates is essential to addressing survival outcomes. He noted that detecting cancer at an earlier stage can increase survival rates by three to ten times, with some cancers reaching survival levels of up to 90% when identified early.

“Cancer detection requires a full ecosystem: oncologists, partners like Zydus, government support, payers, and biopharma. Our goal is to reduce the mortality-to-incidence ratio. At 57%, it is unacceptable, and we need to bring that down. Early detection is the only way to truly change outcomes and save more lives,” said Singh.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News