Personalis Inc. (NASDAQ: PSNL) jumped 9.3% on Tuesday after the company announced that Medicare approved coverage for its NeXT Personal molecular residual disease (MRD) test in lung cancer. The decision expands access to the test for patients with Stage I to III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and marks a major commercial milestone for the precision oncology firm.

Medicare Decision Backed by Strong Clinical Evidence

Medicare based its coverage determination on clinical data generated through Personalis' collaboration with the TRACERx consortium. The study validated NeXT Personal's ability to detect residual disease in lung cancer patients with high accuracy. Notably, this approval follows recent Medicare coverage for the same test in breast cancer, further reinforcing confidence in the platform.

Addressing a Critical Need in Lung Cancer Care

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with approximately 230,000 new diagnoses each year. NeXT Personal targets a key challenge in cancer surveillance by detecting trace amounts of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), which can signal recurrence. In many cases, the test identifies disease relapse earlier than standard imaging, giving clinicians a valuable window for earlier intervention.

Leadership Sees Growth Catalyst

Personalis leadership emphasized the strategic importance of the Medicare decision. Chief Executive Officer and President Chris Hall said the approval broadens patient access for one of the most common cancers in the U.S. while also serving as a catalyst for the company's continued growth.

Advanced Genomic Technology Sets Test Apart

NeXT Personal uses whole-genome sequencing combined with proprietary noise-suppression technology to track up to approximately 1,800 tumor-specific mutations. This approach creates a personalized molecular fingerprint for each patient and proves especially effective in lung cancer, where ctDNA shedding is often minimal and difficult to detect.

Expanding Market Position in Precision Oncology

With Medicare coverage now in place for both lung and breast cancer surveillance, Personalis strengthens its competitive position in precision oncology. As a result, the company stands to expand adoption of its technology while advancing its mission to improve cancer outcomes through earlier and more precise detection. To Learn more information about Personalis Inc. please visit www.personalis.com.