Genomic Testing Cooperative Establishes a Program to Address Cancer Disparity by Offering Molecular Profiling to Minority Patients without Adequate Insurance Coverage and Facilitating Access to Precision Medicine and Enrollment in Clinical Trials

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genomic Testing Cooperative, LCA (GTC) announced today that they are establishing a program offering comprehensive molecular profiling (DNA+RNA) testing to patients with cancer who are affected by cancer disparity and unable to pay due to lack of insurance or lack of coverage of this type of testing. Ethnic and racial minorities, impoverished people, sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ) are typically affected more negatively with cancer. One of the reasons for this disparity is poor access to precision medicine and exclusion from clinical trials or studies evaluating the potential differences in the biology of their cancer.

GTC molecular profiling will provide the treating physicians and patients with proper diagnosis and classification of the tumor, help in determining prognosis, selecting therapy and in developing a strategy for treatment that is specific for the patient. The molecular profiling report provides information regarding potential clinical trials that will help the patients evaluate their options to participate and be treated in these clinical trials. Participation in this program will increase access of underserved patients and reduce disparity within community-based cancer care. In addition, the data generated from this program will be de-identified and made available to appropriate academic and scientific groups for the purpose of developing more personalized cancer treatment for minority groups of patients.

GTC is committed to donating 5% of its annual testing volume to this program. GTC is also establishing a donation fund allowing others to support this program and to increase the number of patients benefiting from this program. Individual donors and organizations can contribute to this program with 100% of the raised funds being used to pay for the actual cost of testing.

Patients must be nominated for this program by their physicians. Patients with solid tumors or hematologic neoplasms are eligible for testing. Hematologists/Oncologists can download a simple nomination form from the GTC website, fill in the required information and fax or e-mail to GTC. Patients can mention this program to their hematologists/oncologists and request nomination for this program.

Dr. Maher Albitar, GTC Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, stated “GTC is committed to making cancer molecular profiling available to all patients with cancer. We all know that patients seen in academic centers are different from real-world patients. Minority patients are not adequately represented in the process for developing innovative medicine nor in the implementation of state-of-the-art medicine. As a diagnostic company, we are doing our part by defining the precise molecular abnormalities that can be targeted but having access to the expensive targeted therapy is a different struggle. We are hoping that pharmaceutical companies will join our effort and do their part in providing the appropriate drugs to these patients and will develop a mechanism to recruit them in their clinical trials.”

A recent study reported that one-third of disparities in survival between white and black patients with stage IV colorectal cancer is a product of treatment gaps (HemOnctoday, January 21/2021).

For downloading the patient nomination form, donations or more information, please visit our website genomictestingcooperative.com

About Genomic Testing Cooperative, LCA

Genomic Testing Cooperative (GTC) is a privately-owned molecular testing company located in Irvine, CA. The company operates based on a cooperative (co-op) business model. Members of the co-op hold type A shares with voting rights. The company offers its patron members a full suite of comprehensive genomic profiling based mainly on next generation sequencing. Molecular alterations are identified based on rigorous testing with the aid of specially developed algorithms to increase accuracy and efficiency. The clinical relevance of the detected alterations is pulled from numerous databases using internally developed software. Relevance of findings to diagnosis, prognosis, selecting therapy, and predicting outcome are reported to members. The co-op model allows GTC to make the testing and information platform available to members at a lower cost because of a lower overhead. For more information, please visit https://genomictestingcooperative.com/.

Forward Looking Statements

All of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the GTC management’s current expectations and includes statements regarding the value of comprehensive genomic profiling, RNA profiling, DNA profiling, algorithms, therapy, the ability of testing to provide clinically useful information. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and GTC undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

Jennifer Varca
Genomic Testing Cooperative
(949) 540-9421
Jvarca@genomictestingcooperative.com