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Huren Sivaraj: Precision Oncology – Is it Time to Reframe the Narrative?

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Feb 4, 2025, 14:35

Huren Sivaraj: Precision Oncology – Is it Time to Reframe the Narrative?

Huren Sivaraj, Co-Founder and CEO of Oncoshot, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Precision Oncology: Is it Time to Reframe the Narrative?

A recent Journal of Clinical Oncology review featuring luminaries like Vivek Subbiah, and David Thomas outlines the challenges of making precision oncology (PO) globally accessible. As we advance in Data, AI, and Precision Medicine in parallel, I wish for global oncology leadership to reframe this discussion by emphasising the need for timely, high-quality data and evidence as the “Foundation for Progress.”

Historically, approvals and reimbursement evolved from single biomarker tests (e.g., IHC or PCR) that complemented therapies. While scientific and sensible, the fragmented approval and reimbursement framework lags behind today’s diagnostic efficiencies and the challenges of validating therapies in ever-smaller patient groups. Approval and reimbursement models need to evolve in tandem.

And we need Better Data for this transformation. How?

1. Continuous, Actionable Evidence: Static trial data isn’t enough. Real-world, local data is crucial to inform clinical care and reimbursement decisions and verify that approvals deliver real benefits. Today, technology for such data is no longer an issue.

2. Robust Infrastructure: Integrate PO into everyday care via secure data systems and applications that promote continuous learning and insights sharing rather than staying confined to research silos and obscure publications. Enable insights sharing within healthcare systems, within a country, and across countries where possible.

3. Stakeholder Realignment: Real-world and current data can drive more intelligent, adaptive care. To optimise healthcare resource allocation, stakeholders must agree and be ready to reassess decisions tactically on a case-by-case basis and strategically to improve resource distribution for the larger cancer population.

Where healthcare systems and regulators must improve:

– Scale access to high-quality, clean clinical data: Hospitals need to actively level up deployment of digitisation and data extraction, enrichment, and maintenance processes as a critical first step. Globally, most cancer hospitals cannot effectively and efficiently restructure clinical and biomarker data today! This needs urgent prioritisation.

– Leverage scalable and secure data-sharing infrastructure and solutions within research ecosystems: Leverage data to engage the scientific community and payors so that approvals and reimbursement can be more agile in dealing with evolving technologies. Share those insights with research groups globally.

The future of PO depends on an integrated approach to data sharing and rapid evidence generation as a foundational priority. We need a shift in mindsets and priorities to change the inequality in access to Precision Oncology.

Would a shift in the narrative benefit global oncology? What do you think?”

precision oncology