New Study Shows Biodesix’s VeriStrat Changes Treatment Decisions for Lung Cancer Patients; Reduces Over-Treatment at End of Life

Biodesix^®, Inc. announced today the results of a study demonstrating that the use of the VeriStrat^® test for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) directly impacts physician treatment decisions in real-world clinical practice. In the study, use of the VeriStrat test resulted in an 89% decrease in ineffective treatments for patients who tested VeriStrat-Poor. A “decision impact” study demonstrates that a test changes the way patients are treated after test results are known. The decision impact study on VeriStrat was published in Current Medical Research and Opinion.

“VeriStrat testing significantly influences treatment recommendations for patients with lung cancer, reducing ineffective and expensive treatment at the end of life,” said Dr. Ray Page DO PhD, FACOI. Dr. Page is the Director of the Research Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, in Ft. Worth, Texas. “VeriStrat test results facilitate conversations between physicians and patients about prognosis and best supportive care, a common yet difficult discussion for this patient population.”

The study evaluated 2494 patients who were tested with VeriStrat between 2012 and 2016, and largely treated in the community setting. For each patient, treatment recommendations were recorded both prior to testing and after the test results were provided to the physician. The study evaluated whether physicians followed VeriStrat test results in making treatment decisions, the extent to which test results changed treatment recommendations, and patterns of referral to best supportive care.

VeriStrat test results are used during physician-patient shared decision making conversations on best supportive care, the study showed. After testing, physicians recommended best supportive care for 25% of patients with test results of VeriStrat-Poor. Physicians followed test results in 98% of cases and changed treatment recommendations for 82% of patients with a test result of VeriStrat-Poor.

The results were published online in advance of the print issue and can be accessed at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03007995.2017.1301903

About the VeriStrat test:

The VeriStrat^® test is a predictive and prognostic blood-based proteomic test for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The test is used to assess disease aggressiveness by characterizing host response to the tumor, classifying patients as either VeriStrat-Good or VeriStrat-Poor.

VeriStrat and Biodesix are registered trademarks of Biodesix, Inc. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Biodesix
Biodesix^® is a molecular diagnostics company advancing the development of innovative blood tests in oncology to enable precision medicine. Biodesix discovers, develops and commercializes multivariate protein and genomic diagnostic blood tests, including the GeneStrat^® and VeriStrat^® tests, that deliver results within 72 hours. The company is changing the standard of care by providing physicians with diagnostic tests for better therapeutic guidance, more accurate prognosis and enhanced disease monitoring to improve patient outcomes. At the forefront of precision medicine, Biodesix is developing new blood tests to identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapies. In addition to developing novel diagnostics independently, the company partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics for use with therapeutic agents.