A recent report highlights that while next-generation sequencing (NGS) has the potential to improve patient outcomes and save money for healthcare systems in lung cancer care, access to NGS across Europe remains slow and unequal.
The study conducted by the Office of Health Economics (OHE) and pharmaceutical company Takeda emphasizes the need to address the disparities in NGS access, as it is recommended for lung cancer patients by professional bodies like the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
NGS offers more comprehensive information compared to single-gene testing and enables personalized, targeted treatments. However, the report reveals that many individuals across Europe who could benefit from NGS are not receiving it. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), targeted therapies have shown to be two to three times more effective than chemotherapy.
One advantage of NGS is that it allows the evaluation of multiple molecular markers in a single test, eliminating the need for multiple invasive procedures to obtain tumor tissue for single-gene testing.
The report identifies various barriers to NGS access, including insufficient funding from health systems, inefficient testing infrastructure, and variations in national guidelines.
In countries like Italy and Spain, regional differences create a “postcode lottery” where access to NGS is inconsistent, and there is no national reimbursement guidance. In France, national reimbursement is limited to 50%, leaving hospitals to bear the remaining cost and make selective choices about which patients can benefit from NGS.
Although England does recommend NGS for advanced lung cancer, its adoption is lower than expected due to slow turnaround times, poor tissue management, and a general lack of awareness among clinicians about NGS.
To promote NGS adoption, the report suggests a three-pronged approach: implementing appropriate pricing and reimbursement mechanisms, standardizing testing and care pathways, and investing in infrastructure.
“Our research clearly shows the clinical efficacy and technical superiority of next-generation sequencing over alternatives such as PCR and single gene testing. This is the cornerstone of the case for expanding its use in lung cancer. Coupled with potential efficiency savings, and a chance to improve patient outcomes, the case for investing in NGS strengthens.”
– Professor Lotte Steuten, deputy chief executive of OHE and a co-author of the report.
Lung cancer is prevalent in Europe, with approximately 318,000 cases diagnosed in 2020 and 257,000 lives lost to the disease.
