Exact Sciences Announces Final National Coverage Determination for Cologuard®

CMS to cover the first and only FDA-approved noninvasive stool DNA screening test for colorectal cancer

MADISON, Wis.-- Exact Sciences Corp. (EXAS) today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Cologuard, making it the first and only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved stool DNA test for the detection of colorectal cancer and precancer covered by Medicare. Coverage will go into effect immediately. Exact Sciences is still awaiting a preliminary pricing determination from CMS.

The NCD was based on the comprehensive review by the federal government agency as part of the FDA and CMS parallel review pilot program. Cologuard is the first medical device to receive FDA approval and a final NCD as part of the parallel review process.

“We are pleased with CMS’ final coverage determination for Cologuard and would like to thank both CMS and FDA for giving Exact Sciences the opportunity to participate in the parallel review pilot program,” said Kevin Conroy, President, CEO and Chairman of Exact Sciences. “Colorectal cancer is often considered the most preventable, yet least prevented cancer due to the lack of patient compliance with screening. CMS’s decision to cover Cologuard will provide Medicare's 50 million patients with access to this accurate screening option.”

Colorectal cancer is highly treatable with early detection through screening. However, 23 million Americans between 50 and 75 are not getting screened as recommended and, as a result, colorectal cancer remains the second-leading cancer killer in the United States. For those whose cancer is detected at an earlier stage, the five-year survival rate can be greater than 90 percent.

Cologuard offers people 50 years and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer an easy to use screening test which they can do in the privacy of their own home. Cologuard has been proven to find 92 percent of colorectal cancers in average risk patients with 87 percent specificity. Cologuard does not require medication, dietary restrictions or bowel preparation prior to taking the test. It is the first noninvasive screening test for colorectal cancer that analyzes both stool-based DNA and blood biomarkers to detect cancer and precancer.

The final NCD can be found online here: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-tracking-sheet.aspx?NCAId=277

About Exact Sciences Corp.

Exact Sciences Corp. (EXAS) is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. The company has exclusive intellectual property protecting its noninvasive, molecular screening technology for the detection of colorectal cancer. Stool DNA technology is included in the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.exactsciences.com, follow us on Twitter @ExactSciences or find us on Facebook.

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