Image source: Exact Sciences.
What: Since the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening in a manner that puts the company's Cologuard on equal footing with other screening methods, shares in Exact Sciences (EXAS +1.00%) have rallied 65% since the end of May, including a 18.5% jump earlier today.
So what: Previously, the task force had issued tentative guidelines which included wording suggesting that Exact Sciences' Cologuard test wasn't as highly recommended as other colon-cancer screening methods, such as fecal occult blood testing (FOBT).
However, this week, the group eliminated the words "recommended" and "alternative" from its tentative guidelines, elevating Cologuard's status to be on par with other approaches. Specifically, the guidelines state:
"The USPSTF concludes with high certainty that screening for colorectal cancer in average-risk, asymptomatic adults aged 50 to 75 years is of substantial net benefit. Multiple screening strategies are available to choose from, with different levels of evidence to support their effectiveness, as well as unique advantages and limitations, although there are no empirical data to demonstrate that any of the reviewed strategies provide a greater net benefit. Screening for colorectal cancer is a substantially underused preventive health strategy in the United States."
In explaining the change in guidance, the task force said:
"This is an update of the 2008 USPSTF recommendation. In 2008, the USPSTF recommended screening with colonoscopy every 10 years, annual FIT, annual high-sensitivity FOBT, or flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years combined with high-sensitivity FOBT every 3 years. In the current recommendation, instead of emphasizing specific screening approaches, the USPSTF has instead chosen to highlight that there is convincing evidence that colorectal cancer screening substantially reduces deaths from the disease among adults aged 50 to 75 years and that not enough adults in the United States are using this effective preventive intervention. The reasons for this gap between evidence and practice are multifaceted and will require sustained effort among clinicians, policy makers, advocates, and patients to overcome."
Now what: The rapid run-up in Exact Sciences shares is being driven by optimism that these final guidelines will lead to more doctors recommending Cologuard and more insurers reimbursing for it. Ahead of these guidelines, short sellers had accumulated more than 20% of Exact Sciences' share float short, so there's a good chance a lot of this week's rally is due to some short sellers buying shares to cover their position.
Although it remains to be seen if these guidelines will increase Cologuard use and boost reimbursement for this test, there's an undeniable need for increased screening of seniors.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and roughly 134 000 people will be diagnosed with it this year. Colorectal cancer is easiest to treat when it's in the early stages; however, many people forego regular screening, and most cases are identified when they've advanced into later and tougher-to-treat stages.
Since baby boomers are turning 65 at a pace of 10,000 people per day, there's clearly a significant addressable market opportunity for Cologuard.
The company pegs Cologuard's opportunity at $4 billion, but the company completed only 104,000 tests and reported total sales of just $39.4 million last year. This year, management thinks the company will complete 240,000 screenings and deliver at least $90 million in sales, but those figures are still pretty small given the size of the market.
Overall, new guidelines offer investors a reason why they can consider owning Exact Sciences, but before investors hit the buy button, they should remember that the company is losing a lot of money. Exiting the first quarter, expenses were running at an annualized $216 million pace, so even with sales more than doubling this year, there's still no telling when Exact Sciences will turn a profit.
