Exact Sciences, a cancer diagnostics specialist, has announced a successful collaboration with Phillips-Medisize, a Molex business, to promote early cancer diagnosis.
Exact Sciences created Cologuard, an FDA-approved non-invasive stool DNA screening test for colorectal cancer, in the pursuit of smarter, earlier life-changing answers about cancer. This aim was in line with Phillips-track Medisize’s record of product design, development, and manufacture.
“We offered Exact Sciences a one-stop shop of advanced production,” said Paul Chaffin, president, medical and pharmaceutical solutions. We have everything they need to bring this new product to market, from human factors design, sophisticated molding, and reagent handling to volume manufacturing, completed packaging, labeling, and serialization. To assist Exact Sciences transform the game in the fight against colorectal cancer, we contributed a potent blend of talents and knowledge.”
About 53,000 people will lose their lives to colorectal cancer in the United States in 2021, according to the American Cancer Society. Ninety percent of cases in stage I or stage II can be treated if found early, however one in three persons over 50 is late on recommended screening for colorectal cancer. New incidences of colorectal cancer are on the rise, and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended tests for persons as early as age 45 because of this trend.
Cologuard is attempting to change how Americans think about colorectal cancer screening thanks to a partnership between Exact Sciences and Phillips-Medisize. The companies worked together to guarantee that the product satisfied usability and quality standards.
VP of Operations at Exact Sciences, Tammy Turek-Etienne “Patient experience is our primary emphasis and mission.” Everything we do revolves on quality and the end customer, so we can ensure that they have a fantastic experience with our products.”
Using at-home testing, the team used human factors design principles to show that patients of all ages and abilities could open and seal the various components of the collection kit. Phillips-Medisize created innovative tooling to prevent unintended leaks while maintaining the tight requirements and tolerances required to produce the highest quality products.
Exact Sciences was able to procure all of the parts, goods, and raw materials needed to rapidly increase kit production because to its supply chain flexibility. Phillips-Medisize identified and evaluated alternative supply sources, conducted risk assessments and forecasting, and devised sourcing and procurement strategies to avoid unanticipated outages. Exact Sciences was able to obtain supplies and raw materials to fulfill rising demand, such as resin, thanks to the organization’s ability to grow safety stock, stockpile spare components, and leverage its purchasing power.
Colorectal cancer screening rates dropped during the pandemic, as vast swaths of the population put off annual medical appointments and routine screenings. To meet volume variations and avoid overstocking, resources were redeployed and production schedules were rearranged.
Phillips-Medisize diversified its production footprint to promote sustainable development while limiting risk by transferring a former Molex manufacturing site in Little Rock, Arkansas, to complement its medical manufacturing operations in Wisconsin.
Phillips-Medisize today has three production lines in the United States, in Wisconsin and Arkansas, that produce 40,000 screening test kits per week using a combination of manual, semi-manual, and highly automated manufacturing. As a result, Cologuard has been used for cancer screening and early detection by more than six million Americans.
