Oncology

In 2022 the number of cancer-related deaths reached almost 10 million⁴ and the incidence of cancer is rising.² By 2040, it is predicted we will see 28.7 million new cancer cases globally, a rise of 44% from 2022.¹ This will put further pressure on oncology services which are already suffering from staff shortages, increasing financial pressures and rising costs.⁵

As a result of rising numbers, the global economic cost of cancers between 2020 and 2050 is estimated to be $25.2 trillion in international dollars. This is equal to an annual tax of 0.55% on global gross domestic product.⁶ However, direct medical costs only tell part of the story. The life-altering impact of cancer extends beyond the individual, affecting immediate and extended family, friends, colleagues, employers and others.

Our understanding of cancer has increased dramatically and continues to evolve. Recent years have seen notable progress in the ability to manage the disease and diagnostics play a critical role, however as the incidence of cancer grows and more testing is required, healthcare providers face pressure to adapt and evolve.³

Conventional diagnostic techniques such as in situ hybridization (ISH), fluorescent ISH (FISH), and single-gene testing require biomarkers to be pre-specified in some cases in order to be tested. With the number of relevant biomarkers increasing year to year, healthcare providers are unable to test for them all and are therefore facing an incomplete picture when diagnosing.⁷ Added to this, the growing amount of data points available to healthcare professionals makes it increasingly complex to make reliable clinical decisions. For example, in Europe in 2019 more than 12,000 clinical trials were initiated.^8,9

Oncology diagnostic solutions can be complex, fragmented, and inconsistent. Roche provides a breadth of solutions across testing disciplines - immunochemistry, molecular testing, sequencing, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and digital insights - to support healthcare professionals to make life-changing decisions.³ Oncology teams need diagnostic certainty. Our aim is to simplify and optimize processes to enable the best possible care decisions for every patient by:

• Empowering pathologists: We offer seven Roche-developed image analysis algorithms and partner with 3rd party algorithm developers to enable pathologists to confidently, accurately, and objectively assess whole tissue slide images¹⁶
• Increasing access to targeted treatment: In line with relevant medical guidelines, ensuring samples are used in the most impactful way and providing diagnostic options for different patient needs: sample type, cost vs TAT, or less invasive options³
• Generating insights: We provide clinical decision support (e.g. navify® Clinical Hub) to create and connect results and provide stakeholders with solutions to facilitate collaboration and coordination along the patient pathway

At Roche we are focused on helping our partners improve labs and lives through flexible, sustainable solutions and close collaboration with the global oncology community through:

• Ongoing partnerships: We have more than 85 ongoing collaborations with 95+ pharma partners¹⁷ to develop companion diagnostics that advance personalized treatment. Additionally, we work with vendors to foster the development of new diagnostics solutions, with digital solutions playing an increasing role.
• Healthcare consultancy: Our healthcare consultants collaborate to implement enhanced diagnostics in partner organizations and ensure standardization and compliance with medical support. Our goal is to help partners optimize performance, add value, and adapt to evolving health policies, ultimately enhancing patient care and business outcomes.
• Expanding access: In 2014, recognizing that diagnostics is an integral component of functioning health systems, Roche launched the Global Access Program to enable access to reliable testing solutions for patients in low- and low-middle-income countries.¹⁸ We work with governments and policymakers, to improve access and ensure Roche creates long-term impact not only for patients, but society as a whole.¹³