Foundation Medicine, Inc., a molecular information company, has signed a national agreement for FoundationOne, a comprehensive genomic profiling assay for solid tumours, with UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation's largest private payers.

The agreement, which became effective December 15, 2015, covers FoundationOne for patients with metastatic stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the United States, approximately 50 per cent of patients with NSCLC have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis.

FoundationOne is a comprehensive genomic profile that enables physicians to make treatment decisions for patients with cancer by identifying the molecular growth drivers of their cancers and by helping oncologists match the identified drivers with relevant targeted therapeutic options. Requiring only a small amount of tumor tissue, FoundationOne interrogates the entire coding sequence of 315 cancer-related genes plus select introns from 28 genes that are known to be altered in solid tumours.

"UnitedHealthcare's coverage decision is a critical first step towards ensuring that comprehensive genomic profiling becomes standard-of-care treatment for patients with metastatic disease," said Bonnie J. Addario, lung cancer survivor, and founder of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute.

"Lack of reimbursement for comprehensive genomic profiling tests, like FoundationOne, continues to be one of the major barriers impeding patient access to potentially life-extending therapies for which the patient is a molecular match."

"This national coverage agreement with UnitedHealthcare is an important step towards broader reimbursement for Foundation Medicine, and importantly, it's a significant advance for patients with metastatic NSCLC," said Michael Pellini, M.D., chief executive officer for Foundation Medicine.

"Studies demonstrate that improved clinical outcomes are achieved by matching patients to targeted therapies based on the unique genomic alterations contributing to the disease. We look forward to building upon our relationship with UnitedHealthcare and other national insurers as we continue to demonstrate clinical and economic evidence supporting coverage and payment for FoundationOne in additional cancer types."