US-based Guardant Health, Inc., a leading precision oncology company, has announced an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) to introduce a non-invasive blood-based screening programme for colorectal cancer using Guardant’s Shield test. The agreement was set up through Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, a multinational pharmaceutical group and regional partner for Guardant in the Middle East and North Africa, and will be administered by the M42 healthcare system.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in Abu Dhabi, with 63% of cases diagnosed at a late stage, which adversely affects health outcomes and lowers survival rates. The introduction of the Shield blood test is intended to be a significant step forward in improving screening participation, early detection and outcomes for the community.
The Shield test will be provided as part of the ADPHC’s IFHAS comprehensive health screening programme and will be available at major healthcare facilities operated by Ambulatory Healthcare Services and M42 sites across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and the Al Dhafra region. This broad accessibility and the more pleasant screening experience are expected to address low adherence rates, a key challenge in the early detection of colorectal cancer.
The blood-based colorectal cancer screening programme is expected to screen approximately 10,000 people across Abu Dhabi and surrounding regions in its first year.
