Prolaris Test Improves Health Outcomes, Reduces Healthcare Costs

Researchers have found that Prolaris test improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs and aids physicians in providing clinical care for their patients. Prolaris test is rapidly becoming the leading molecular prognostic test to determine if patients have aggressive prostate cancer or not and to help physicians personalize treatment decisions.

In a study that evaluated the economic impact of the Prolaris test, researchers have found that the test reduced costs by $2,850 per patient tested, which over a 10-year period could save the healthcare system $6 billion. It is estimated that two-thirds of these savings would be achieved within the first year after testing. The cost savings are possible because of active surveillance in low and intermediate risk patients and from lower disease progression rates in high risk patients who received more extensive treatment.

Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN) has announced to present the clinical data from three studies with Prolaris in prostate cancer patients at the 2014 Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Annual Meeting. They will also present interim results from PROCEDE 1000, which is the largest prospective clinical utility study to date that evaluates the impact of the Prolaris test on personalizing prostate cancer treatment. Interim data analysis of 816 patients shows that based on the results from the Prolaris test, the physicians changed their treatment decisions in 44 percent of cases. Based on the test score 32 percent of patients underwent a reduction in treatment, and 12 percent of patients received more aggressive treatment.

Michael Brawer, M.D., vice president of Medical Affairs, Myriad said, "Improving patient care is our highest priority, and we strive to prevent the overtreatment of men with low-risk prostate cancer and the under treatment of high-risk patients."



Source: Medindia