Precision medicine

December 2022

Cancer is a lifechanging event both for employees as well as for their families, and with cases on the rise, the impact of cancer on organizations is substantially increasing.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths.¹ In 2020, almost 20 million people developed cancer, and it is projected that by 2040, there will be over 30 million new cases worldwide.²

Detecting and treating cancer at the earliest possible stage drastically improves the prognosis, however, treatment is not always readily available. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, demand has long exceeded supply, particularly in national healthcare systems, such as in the UK, with the number of patients on cancer pathways steadily increasing and cancer waiting time targets consistently missed.³

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically magnified this situation, resulting in significant delays in screenings, diagnosis, and timely access to treatment. Research by Jama Oncology in July 2022, showed that there was a global drop of -46.7%, -44.9%, and -51.8% for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screenings between January and October 2020⁴, resulting in a considerable increase in later-stage diagnosis. Early findings from a study at Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla, California, has shown there has been over a 400% increase in stage IV breast cancer, and a 290% increase in stage IV colon cancer for example.⁵

Delays in diagnosis and access to treatment can mean early-stage tumors progressing from curable to incurable disease. Research published in the BMJ suggests that people whose treatment for cancer is delayed by even one month, have in many cases a 6 to 13% higher risk of dying – a risk that keeps rising the longer their treatment does not begin.⁶

Two years on, healthcare systems around the world are still struggling to cope with the backlog of cancer cases and the logistical and financial burden of providing quality cancer care. Meanwhile, innovation in cancer treatments has continued apace with unprecedented developments over the last five years. Precision medicine and personalized therapies have dramatically improved the prognosis of patients with certain cancers, and new treatments, such as CAR-T cell therapy, have been life-changing. However, the value of this innovation is only realized when patients have access to these new treatments. In the EU, it takes on average 545 days for a new medicine approved by the European Medicines Agency to be made available to patients⁷ and, again, this has only worsened due to COVID-19 and existing pressures on healthcare systems.

Even in the most developed countries, availability and accessibility to the right cancer treatment is an ongoing and ever-increasing issue. Add in other barriers such as geography, socioeconomic factors and a lack of medical knowledge or understanding to the healthcare equation, and it makes for a very complex landscape to navigate.

Products and services developed by organizations like Further, the IGP strategic partner for international medical insurance, play a key role in simplifying these complexities, breaking down these barriers and putting the patient at the center of their treatment, enabling them to make informed decisions and access the highest levels of care given the patient’s specific circumstances.

We spoke to Sylwia Biszczuk, (MRes Cancer Biology & Medical Network Manager) at Further Group, about the growing role of precision medicine in cancer treatment and Further’s new precision medicine solution.

"Precision medicine is the cornerstone of a new era of precision oncology which moves away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach to cancer treatment. By analyzing the genomic make-up of each individual’s cancer, treatments can be personalized to target specific genetic mutations, resulting in more cost-effective treatments, faster recovery and ultimately a better quality of life for the patient.

Precision medicine uses the most advanced molecular profiling tests, such as Next Generation Sequencing, that screens for a wide range of cancer biomarkers all at once. This 360-degree approach means that with just one test, oncologists can select the most appropriate cancer treatments and maximize the clinical benefits for patients."

"Whilst some genetic testing for cancer may be available through national programs, the tests are typically deployed at a late stage in the cancer pathway when standard treatments have failed. This trial-and-error approach means patients are undergoing unnecessary and aggressive treatments with no clinical benefit and, in some cases, with serious adverse effects. Further’s mission is to get patients onto the right treatment pathway as early as possible by simplifying access to the latest medical advances in the treatment of serious illnesses, particularly cancer.

Further’s new Precision CancerCare™ product helps make this a reality by providing navigation and support, from diagnosis through to personalized treatment, to ensure timely access to effective cancer care, including:

• Personalized treatment plans which offer a better chance of faster recovery and improved quality of life, by:
  • Identifying the targeted therapies and treatment options that match the patient's tumor profile;
  • Understanding the ineffectiveness, or even toxicity, of standard chemotherapy treatment;
  • Enabling more precise cancer diagnoses and prognoses.
• Optimization of resources by reducing unnecessary treatments:
  • Molecular profiling reveals early indications of treatment resistance and spares “non responders” from a treatment with no therapeutic benefit.
• Access to relevant oncology clinical trials which can deliver the latest experimental treatments for a particular cancer, and support with enrolment and travel arrangements.
• Where a hereditary mutation is detected, family members of the patient can chose to be tested for the presence of the mutation so that appropriate genetic counseling can be provided. (Family testing is optional and confidential.)

Through Further’s Precision CancerCare+™ solution, if the best recommended treatment is not available locally, or the patient wishes to seek treatment in a center of excellence abroad, Further will arrange end-to-end treatment overseas in world-leading cancer facilities and will take care of all travel arrangements and costs."

Innovation is evolving healthcare benefits and precision medicine is beginning to emerge as a true game-changer for organizations, the health of their people and their bottom line. Cancer is increasingly becoming a priority for employers due to a higher prevalence of the disease, and it is now topping the list of conditions driving healthcare costs.

At the same time, organizations are looking at their benefits plans through a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) lens to ensure health inclusivity and equity, offering benefits that are accessible and valuable to employees across different population groups and geographies.

Further’s Business Development Manager - Corporate Solutions, Rose O’Donovan, tells us how many organizations are increasingly looking to broaden equitable employee access to innovative cancer treatments and include this niche offering as part of their employee health benefits package.

"Precision medicine offers the opportunity to optimize resources, financially by avoiding potentially unnecessary treatment lines, as well as improving the quality of life of those employees with cancer and contributing to faster return to work.

This is only possible by bridging the gap between the scientific advances and clinical practice, by integrating employees' genomic data into routine clinical decision-making for more individualized, assertive treatment pathways.

Through better cancer diagnosis and targeted therapies, treatments with a low chance of success, high toxicities, and adverse effects are avoided.

It can also benefit the employee’s family, by identifying specific hereditary mutations that may be passed down to family members and facilitate early detection of cancer.⁸

More employers are looking to level the playing field and offer equitable benefits. Giving your employees access to precision medicine removes geographical and eligibility barriers by providing access to a service that may otherwise be unavailable to them."

"At Further, we specialize in the development of affordable, innovative health insurance products and service solutions that provide access to the very best international medical expertise, as well as making sure that support is there every step of the way. We simplify an otherwise complex care journey by providing patients with guidance and taking away the administrative burden, so they can focus on what matters most: their health.

Precision medicine at Further is personalized care which starts with a dedicated, knowledgeable team of professionals with personalized attention to the employee and their family. Our team translates the complex scientific processes into an easy-to-access Expert Clinical Opinion and offers the employee the chance to have access to therapies optimizing efficiency and therapeutical benefits. Further partners with some of the most advanced laboratories and precision medicine experts to provide all employees with the best care regardless of individual barriers."

Watch this short video to learn more about Precision CancerCare+™ from Further.