GTG's breast cancer risk test is cost-effective

Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) said a virtual trial of its BREVAGen breast cancer risk assessment tool has confirmed the test’s cost-effectiveness.

The study, conducted by Genetic Technologies and healthcare modelling and analytics firm Archimedes, used a simulation model of breast cancer and healthcare processes to compare the use of BREVGen with the traditional Gail risk test.

The results have been published in the online issue of the latest Cancer Prevention Research. They show that BREVAGen was most cost-effective in virtual patients classified as having an intermediate lifetime risk of breast cancer.

For this group, the test resulted in savings of 0.023 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per patient at a cost of US$163,264 ($180,263) per QALY.

The cost-effectiveness in this group was similar to that of other recommended strategies, including an annual MRI.

Under the model, BREVAGen also yielded a 2.7% reduction in cancer deaths relative to the Gail score alone for patients with a lifetime risk of at least 10%.

“We are pleased to see a predicted reduction in cancer deaths based on the use of BREVAGen in addition to the identification of a group of women at intermediate risk of breast cancer for which it is optimally cost-effective,” Genetic Technologies acting CEO Tom Howitt said.

Genetic Technologies started providing its genetic test in a handful of US states in June 2011. By February 2012, the company had secured permission to offer the test in all 50 US states.

Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) shares were trading 1.64% lower at $0.06 as of around 1.30 pm on Friday.