Exact Sciences CEO: $3 Billion Opportunity with Early Cancer Detection Technology

Exact Sciences’ (NASDAQ: EXAS) Chief Executive, Kevin Conroy, speaks with PropThink.com during a Global Healthcare Conference in New York City in June.

With data from Exact Sciences’ Phase III ‘Cologuard’ trial anticipated later this year, Conroy talks about the multi-billion dollar opportunity for a sensitive, yet non-invasive test that can screen for pre-cancers and potentially prevent later stage cancers from occurring, even years in advance.

Colon cancers are well known to be the most preventable, yet least prevented,” says Conroy on the opportunity for his company’s screening technology. Exact Sciences anticipates filing for regulatory approval for Cologuard by year-end.

In the interview, Conroy discusses his company’s balance sheet and explains why Exact Sciences’ stool-based DNA screening technology will challenge the ‘gold standard’ in colonoscopy. Of current practices, Conroy says, “You have one test that is non-invasive and not very sensitive, and another test that is very invasive, time consuming, and expensive. A lot of patients won’t undergo a colonoscopy.” He argues a strong case for Cologuard reimbursement, explaining that over $1B is spent on anesthesia for colonoscopies annually in the U.S., a medically unnecessary expense.