Our mission is to pioneer early lung cancer detection and save lives.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, with more than 2.2 million new cases reported in 2020. It is the most common cancer in men and the second most common in women¹. The disease has a significant impact on global health, causing an estimated 1.8 million deaths in 2020.
Lack of Reliable Early Screening
There is currently no feasible screening method to detect lung cancer early in the general population. Low-dose CT screening is recommended only for older high-risk groups like heavy smokers. However, CT screening has not been widely adopted due to costs, radiation exposure risks, and false positive results that can lead to unnecessary procedures. A non-invasive biomarker test is critically needed to cost-effectively screen at-risk individuals before symptoms appear.
High Mortality Despite Treatment
Even with treatment, the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer patients is only 20% across all stages. For distant metastatic disease, the 5-year survival plummets to 6%. Each year, over 1.8 million lives are needlessly lost to this often preventable disease. Earlier detection and diagnosis are imperative to reduce mortality.
Soaring Costs of Late Diagnosis
Late diagnosis and treatment costs the global economy over $170 billion per year in lost productivity and increased healthcare expenditures. Catching lung cancer earlier could dramatically reduce costs for patients, insurers and healthcare systems alike.
Impact and Prevalence
Lung cancer affects both genders across the globe. In 2020, there were 1,435,943 new cases in men and 770,828 in women¹. In the United States alone, an estimated 238,340 adults will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023.
Healthcare Challenges
Three major challenges inhibit long-term survival: late diagnosis, few treatment advances for early-stage cancer, and disparity in cancer care both worldwide and within countries. Lung cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited²⁹. This late diagnosis is a significant issue as it reduces the chances of successful treatment.