Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, KEW Group Bring Power of Personalized Medicine to Community Oncologists

DUBLIN, Ohio and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions and KEW Group, Inc. (KEW), a privately held oncology services company, today announced an agreement for the two companies to make KEW's state-of-the-art diagnostic services available to Specialty Solutions' community oncology customers.

KEW is a privately held oncology services company that is focused on revolutionizing cancer care by empowering all oncologists to access and apply genomic insights to design optimal, individualized treatment approaches for as many patients as possible.

"We are committed to working with all players in the healthcare system to ensure the right patients are treated at the right time, with the most effective medication, in the most convenient, accessible setting," said Scott Howell, M.D., senior vice president of Clinical Services for Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. "Our expanded agreement with KEW helps us deliver on that commitment, by providing community oncologists with access to advanced diagnostics tools that can help them make the best, most informed treatment decisions for their patients, while improving the overall cost effectiveness of care."

Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions customers will now have access to KEW's CancerPlex^SM, a highly versatile and comprehensive genetic test providing accurate, thorough and timely molecular diagnosis of patients' solid tumors, providing oncologists the ability to manage their treatment decisions with the precision provided by personalized medicine. CancerPlex:

• Simultaneously provides complete sequence coverage of more than 410 cancer genes;
• Simplifies and streamlines the test-ordering process by eliminating serial "hotspot" tests;
• Delivers a comprehensive report, including actionable data;
• Informs physicians of optimal treatment options using approved therapies and available clinical trials; and
• Supports clinical trial enrollment by providing oncologists with required molecular data.

CancerPlex testing is performed at KEW's state-of-the-art CLIA laboratory. After an oncologist orders CancerPlex, KEW facilitates tumor specimen retrieval from the patient's pathologist; analyzes the specimen at its CLIA lab and then reports the findings to the oncologist. This process reveals genetic and genomic changes that impact a patient's optimal treatment options, and which may otherwise remain undiscovered by limited genetic screening or less comprehensive tests. KEW then provides the oncologist with information on diagnostic findings and potential treatment options (including clinical trials) that are most appropriate for the patient.

"We are excited to make our leading-edge molecular sequencing tumor diagnostics tools available to the nationwide network of community oncologists served by Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions," said Scott Schell, CEO of KEW Group. "We look forward to working with Specialty Solutions and community oncologists – who treat 80 percent of cancer patients in the United States – empowering them with the ability to provide personalized medicine treatments previously only available at large cancer treatment and academic centers."

Earlier this year, KEW announced that it had closed a private round of financing with Cardinal Health and The Bolyston Street Group. John P. Sullivan, vice president of Strategy and Corporate Development at Cardinal Health, serves KEW's Board of Directors. 

About KEW Group Inc.

KEW Group Inc. (KEW) provides multiple services to oncologists to assist in treatment decisions for cancer patients. KEW provides genomic testing for patient tumor samples (KEW MDx) and genomic information important to diagnostic and treatment decisions that assist physicians and are detailed in cancer-specific Therapeutic Pathways (KEW TPx). KEW MDx's CancerPlex^SM test is the first of the company's diagnostic services designed to assist community oncologists in providing state-of-the-art genomic testing that previously had been available only at large cancer treatment and academic centers. KEW is currently working with seven oncology practices in six different states to refine Therapeutic Pathways for seven types of cancer (breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma, lymphoma, thyroid and pancreatic). These seven practices all participate in a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Grant, which is developing and testing a Community Oncology Medical Home model, known as COME HOME. The grant is administered through Innovative Oncology Business Solutions, Inc., the organization that oversees and manages COME HOME. KEW's Treatment Pathways integrate newly emerging cancer genomic information that follows evidence standards essential to how and when to perform molecular tests, as well as inform care decisions. 

About Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions

Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions provides regulatory, clinical, reimbursement, technology and distribution services to help health care professionals, payers and pharmaceutical and biotech companies improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of caring for patients who are managing complex diseases.  Specialty Solutions partners with customers to alleviate day-to-day administrative burdens, optimize business functions and to implement new innovations that move their businesses forward.  To learn more, visit www.cardinalhealth.com/specialtysolutions.

About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $91 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products and services to more than 100,000 locations each day and is also the industry-leading direct-to-home medical supplies distributor. The company is a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company operates the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #22 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs 34,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com  and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.  

SOURCE Cardinal Health Speciality Solutions