Diaceutics, an intelligence and engagement company that unlocks the full potential of diagnosis-driven treatments, announced new research that reveals important changes in precision medicine. Despite significant advances in biomarker testing, approximately two-thirds of eligible patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) in the United States still do not receive optimal treatment.
The latest Clinical Practice Gap Report is based on a widely cited 2022 study in Diaceutics published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. We applied the same seven-step framework to real-world data for more than 35,800 newly diagnosed aNSCLC patients in the United States and compared outcomes from 2019 to 2023.
The analysis revealed that despite significant advances in testing, overall patient loss across the precision medicine pathway remained virtually unchanged at 65.1% in 2023, compared to 64.4% in 2019.
However, this study revealed significant changes. The biggest gap occurs at the point of treatment decision-making. Patient losses at this stage jumped from 29.2% to 43.3%, an increase of 12%. Patient losses early in the pathway are decreasing, indicating positive progress in diagnosis. However, this does not lead to better patient options overall because of suboptimal treatment decisions.
The headlines haven’t changed – about two-thirds of patients still don’t receive appropriate treatment. But where we lose them has fundamentally changed. Thanks to a lot of innovation and system-wide investment, testing has improved and the problem has just moved downstream. This is no longer primarily a testing issue. It is now a matter of translation and requires a different response from the broader ecosystem, including industry. ”
Susanne Munksted, Chief Precision Medicine Officer, Diabetes
The findings highlight the growing disconnect between expanding diagnostic capabilities and treatment decision-making due to increased complexity and time pressure for clinicians. Diaceutics research shows that:
- 86% of oncologists plan treatment before complete biomarker results are available.
- Only 43% always wait for results before starting primary treatment
- More than half do not consistently act on biomarker reporting recommendations.
The report calls for a fundamental shift in the way precision medicine operates, rebalancing the focus on treatment decision-making, increasing consistency in ordering biomarker tests, and providing real-time, practical support to physicians at the point of care. Diaceutics continues to expand its real-world analysis to further understand and address the drivers of treatment decision failure.
”A more systematic approach is needed to make precision medicine the path of least resistance” added Manxted.To bridge the gap between testing and treatment, the industry must develop and adopt diagnostic, data-driven, and continuously adaptive operating models to optimize the patient journey from testing to identification to appropriate treatment.. ”
