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American Cancer Society Includes Exact Sciences' Cologuard in Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Guidelines

EXAS, BIOGY | November 6, 2014

Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) today announced that the American Cancer Society’s Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Early Detection national guidelines for colorectal cancer screening now reflect the commercial availability of Cologuard, the company’s noninvasive stool DNA colorectal cancer screening test.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines include Cologuard in a recommended list of screening options for colorectal cancer. ACS guidelines also reflect the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services assessment that Cologuard be performed every three years for patients 50 and older who do not have symptoms of colorectal cancer and who do not have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Medicare covers Cologuard for individuals age 50-85 fitting these criteria once every three years at no cost to patients. Updated information on the ACS website also describes the process by which patients can access Cologuard, including information about collecting and sending samples to the lab for testing and the latest information on Medicare coverage.

Available by prescription only, Cologuard is the first and only FDA approved noninvasive stool DNA screening test for colorectal cancer. Cologuard offers people 50 years and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer an easy to use screening test which they can do in the privacy of their own home. Cologuard is designed to detect DNA alterations and blood released from cancer and precancerous colon lesions and has been proven to find 92 percent of colorectal cancers in average risk patients with 87 percent specificity using only a single sample. Cologuard does not require medication, dietary restrictions or bowel preparation prior to taking the test.

“The ACS’ updated information regarding Cologuard is based on ACS’ inclusion of Exact Sciences’ first stool DNA test among the recommended options for colorectal cancer screening in 2008, and the recent availability of the new test. These updated guidelines mark a pivotal benchmark in providing patients and clinicians with information and access to this accurate and convenient colorectal cancer screening option,” said Kevin Conroy, President, Chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. “Colorectal cancer remains the second-leading cancer killer in the U.S. due to low screening rates. These guidelines provide people with important information on the screening options available to them. We hope these guidelines will also encourage more people to get screened and contribute significantly to the ACS and National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable shared goal of reaching 80% screened for colorectal cancer by 2018.”

Since 1980, the ACS has introduced and periodically updated guidelines or guidance related to screening and/or informed decision-making about tests for early detection of cancers of the breast, cervix, colon and rectum, endometrium, lung and prostate. The ACS develops guidelines for cancer screening to meet the needs of clinicians, the general public, and policy.

About Exact Sciences Corp.

Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. The company has exclusive intellectual property protecting its noninvasive, molecular screening technology for the detection of colorectal cancer. Stool DNA technology is included in the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.exactsciences.com, follow us on Twitter @ExactSciences or find us on Facebook.

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