European Coalition for Access to Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (ECGP)

EUCOPE along with Exact Sciences, Guardant Health, Illumina, MSD and Novartis, launched the European Coalition for Access to Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (ECGP), to improve cancer care through increased routine clinical access and reimbursement of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP).

Access to comprehensive genomic profiling in Europe is limited, with European cancer patients not having access to potentially life-changing targeted cancer treatments because current funding and reimbursement frameworks do not allow for routine testing for all relevant cancer mutations.

CGP is a method of testing tumours that utilises next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect the main classes of genomic alterations and signatures in the full exonic region of genes known to drive cancer growth and identify patient eligibility for clinical trials, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.

In alignment with flagship initiatives of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and recommendations of the EU Mission on Cancer, EUCOPE advocates for sound public policy that supports innovation, while fostering a community built on a shared purpose: improving and saving the lives of European patients through innovative therapies and medical technology, contributing to the vision of the Cancer Mission of improving the lives of more than three million people by 2030.

“It’s vital that we speak with one voice to Payers when it comes to improving access to cancer diagnostics, treatments, and patient care. The importance of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling cannot be overestimated in guiding access to potentially life-saving treatments, and Illumina is committed to advancing and individualizing the way cancer will be identified, and treated, to make a life-changing difference to cancer patients and their loved ones.”

– Bas Verhoef, Head of Europe, Illumina

ECGP will involve the key stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, pathologists and industry to identify and share best practices, and develop evidence-based policy recommendations on the clinical and economic utility of CGP for payers and other decision-makers, based on multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary perspectives.

Adoption of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling is limited in Europe

Significant advances have been made in both genomic testing and the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for cancer patients over the last decade based on our increased understanding of cancer and the impact of the individual genomic makeup of each patient’s tumour. We now know that a variety of genomic alterations in a broad number of genes can drive cancer growth. CGP can accurately detect these relevant genomic alterations across a large number of genes compared to standard diagnostic tests which are narrow in scope and therefore potentially miss clinically relevant mutations.

We have the ambition to deliver the right treatment to the right patient at the right time – with widespread adoption of personalised medicine, the potential is enormous to derive significant benefit to patients and to healthcare systems alongside more targeted and efficient use of resources. Today, this rapid technological advancement is not fully adopted in clinical practice due to access for patients to comprehensive genomic profiling remaining limited. While important progress has been made in making genomic tests based on single biomarkers or a limited number of genes available to patients in Europe – access to more comprehensive tests like CGP is much more limited.[1]

In the coming months ECGP will be inviting interested stakeholders to co-create solutions and progress the adoption of CGP with increased access for patients in EU Member States.

“Europe can lead the advancement and application of CGP to address complex healthcare requirements of populations at large and to improve treatment outcomes of its citizens. By opening the door to biomarkers testing we will complete the picture of personalised medicine with a focus on preventive measures, diagnostics, treatment strategies, and patient management.”

– Cecilia Schott, Global Head Precision Oncology, Novartis

Unlocking access to precision oncology through funding and reimbursement of CGP

Adoption of CGP is a necessary step towards the delivery of personalised medicine which as recognised in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, brings value to patients, healthcare systems and societies. The overall adoption of advanced diagnostics in the clinic and healthcare systems is still limited in scale however, due to their value not being sufficiently recognised, the lack of pathways for appraisal that are time-bound and fit-for-purpose and the lack of essential clinical supporting infrastructure in Europe.[2]

“When it comes to access to comprehensive genomic profiling, we are facing multiple systemic barriers, which we believe can be best addressed when key stakeholders come together. MSD is excited to join forces with the other members of ECGP to co-create strategies designed to improve patient access to comprehensive genomic profiling and personalized treatment.”

-Cyril Schiever, President, Mid-Europe Region, MSD

ECGP aims to ensure that the political commitment of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and EU’s Cancer Mission to “leave no stone unturned to take action against cancer” is met at the Member State level, where decisions on funding and reimbursement are made. The European Parliament has called on EU Member States to increase access to genomic testing by earmarking financing and creating clear pathways for fast and efficient reimbursement and facilitating equal and rapid access to advanced diagnostics alongside personalised therapies.[3]

“Comprehensive genomic profiling is essential to realise the full potential of precision medicine because it allows healthcare professionals to identify all relevant cancer mutations and match patients with the targeted therapies that will be most effective in improving outcomes. Increasing clinical access to and reimbursement for this testing to identify actionable biomarkers is critical to making potentially life-saving cancer treatments available to more European patients.”

-Benjamin Gannon, Vice President, International, Guardant Health

ECGP’s Objectives

ECGP’s objective is to create multi-stakeholder outputs to support wider CGP coverage and reimbursement in view of the development of personalised medicine:

ECGP will raise awareness on the role of CGP by convening decision-maker and stakeholder roundtables to progress a common understanding around the implementation of CGP, and current patient access challenges and promote the exchange of best practices to foster the use of CGP in clinical practice.
ECGP will gather clinical, economic and operational evidence, assembling evidence and identifying data sources (Real World Data) to improve access to CGP in the cancer ecosystem.
ECGP will evolve funding and P&R frameworks by gathering evidence and aligning stakeholder perspectives on optimal access pathways (e.g. HTA, payer, clinician, pathologist, patient, industry) and identify cross-market learnings on the patient diagnostic journey in support of HTA/payer decision-making.

“There are clear gaps in the current provision of cancer care across Europe, and we believe that collaboration is critical to supporting broad education and patient access to the latest innovations. That’s why we are thrilled to be partnering with EUCOPE and other experts in the industry on the ECGP initiative.”

– Steven Bellamy, Chief Medical Officer – International, Exact Sciences

In the coming months, ECGP will be inviting interested stakeholders to become involved, to co-create solutions and progress the adoption of CGP in Member States. If you would like more information or are interested in becoming involved in ECGP, please contact: Matias Olsen (olsen@eucope.org)

Find our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the ECGP.

ECGP Partners

Follow ECGP on Twitter @EU_CGP

[1] Normanno et al (2022): “Access and quality of biomarker testing for precision oncology in Europe” European Journal of Cancer. 176:70-77.

[2] EUCOPE (2021): Developing an Advanced Diagnostics Ecosystem in Europe: A Proposal for Change. https://www.eucope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/eucope-advanced-diagnostics-white-paper.pdf

[3] European Parliament (2022): European Parliament resolution of 16 February 2022 on strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer – towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy. 2020/2267(INI) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0038_EN.html