Mercy Health System Joins Major Clinical Study Testing Multi-Cancer Blood Screening in Medicare Population
核心洞察
Mercy (搜索) is participating in the three-year REACH study evaluating GRAIL's Galleri (搜索) multi-cancer early detection blood test among up to 50,000 Medicare beneficiaries.
The study will compare Medicare patients receiving annual Galleri (搜索) testing alongside standard care to those receiving care without the test, focusing on recruiting traditionally underrepresented populations.
Medicare beneficiaries face critical unmet needs for early cancer detection, with almost 70% of cancer deaths in the U.S. occurring in people aged 65 and older.
Mercy (搜索), one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems, has joined a landmark clinical study evaluating the real-world impact of multi-cancer early detection testing among Medicare beneficiaries. The health system is participating in GRAIL's three-year REACH study (NCT05673018), which aims to assess the clinical utility of the Galleri (搜索) multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test in this high-risk population.
Study Design and Scope
The REACH study will compare up to 50,000 Medicare beneficiaries who receive standard care plus an annual Galleri (搜索) test to those who receive care without the screening test. The study design specifically focuses on recruiting participants who reflect the broader Medicare population, with particular emphasis on including those who are traditionally underrepresented in clinical trials.
"Mercy (搜索) was the first in our communities to make MCED tests available to our patients and participated in the initial GRAIL clinical study," said Dr. Damon Broyles, Mercy's vice president of clinical innovation, medical director for MCED and REACH study principal investigator. "We are always looking for innovative screening and treatment options, so it was important to us to participate in the REACH study to help expand upon the real-world evidence of the Galleri (搜索) test, in order to build upon the evidence base that can help extend access to Medicare beneficiaries."
Addressing Critical Unmet Medical Need
The study targets a population with significant unmet needs for early cancer detection. Age represents the most significant risk factor for cancer development, making Medicare beneficiaries a particularly vulnerable group. According to the study announcement, almost 70% of people who died from cancer last year in the U.S. were age 65 and older.
The cancer burden among Medicare beneficiaries is substantial, with more than half of all cancer diagnoses in the U.S. occurring among this population who face the highest cancer risk due to their age. This demographic reality underscores the potential clinical significance of implementing effective multi-cancer screening strategies in the Medicare population.
Eligibility and Participation
Patients who are at least 50 years old and enrolled in Medicare are likely to be eligible for the study. Those interested in learning more about participation can contact the study team at the provided email address.
Mercy (搜索)'s involvement in the REACH study builds on the health system's previous experience with multi-cancer early detection testing. The organization was among the first to offer MCED tests to patients in their communities and participated in GRAIL's initial clinical studies, positioning them as an experienced site for this expanded research effort.