Companion diagnostics can be used to determine the appropriate approach most likely to benefit a particular cancer patient. As a result, companion diagnostic tests are witnessing a quick adoption rate, and the reagent fees of a companion diagnostic such as HER-2 and PD-1 tests can range from less than $10 to more than $100 per test. The average selling price of these tests is estimated to decrease in the next three years globally, according to the Global Brand Pricing tool of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData, the market for oncology tests was valued at $1.9 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $3.1 billion by 2030, with a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8% from 2023 to 2030

Tina Deng, Principal Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The cost of a companion diagnostic can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the type of test, the complexity of the technology, the intended use, and the regulatory requirements of the country in which the test is marketed. It is important to note that the cost of a companion diagnostic is often only one aspect of the overall cost of a targeted therapy.

“Companion diagnostics are designed to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from a particular medication or therapy, and the cost of the therapy itself can be much higher than the cost of the diagnostic test. It is important to consider the overall value of the companion diagnostic test in the context of the potential benefits of targeted therapies for patients. Most of the companion diagnostics in oncology are cost-effective.”

In some cases, companion diagnostics may not be available at all in certain regions, making it difficult or impossible for patients to access the therapies they need. In other cases, companion diagnostics may be available but at a significantly higher cost, making them unaffordable for many patients. As a result, the availability and cost of these tests can be a significant barrier to accessing targeted therapies in developing countries.

Tina concludes: “Efforts are being made to improve access to affordable companion diagnostics, particularly in developing countries, to ensure that patients can receive the most appropriate treatments for their medical conditions. The initiatives include Access Accelerated, Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, and other programs by manufacturers of companion diagnostics. It can be expected that the pricing of companion diagnostics in oncology will drop in the near future.”