Guardant Health launches Shield Multi-Cancer Detection Test in APAC market
March 17, 2026 | Tuesday | News
Shield MCD test will be accessable in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines starting from April 2026
Guardant Health, Inc., a leading precision oncology company, has announced the launch of the Shield™ multi-cancer detection (MCD) laboratory developed test (LDT) in multiple markets in Asia.
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Asia. With just a blood draw, the Shield MCD test screens for 10 of the most common cancers, many of which carry high mortality rates in the region.
The Shield MCD test is a methylation-based blood test for the detection of multiple cancer types including bladder, colorectal, breast, prostate, esophageal, gastric, liver, lung, ovarian and pancreas cancer in individuals aged 45 or older who are at typical average risk for cancer.
The partnership with Manulife marks a first-of-its kind collaboration with a major insurer in Asia to expand access to early cancer detection in the region by offering innovative technologies like Guardant’s Shield MCD test to address real, unmet health needs.
As part of the partnership, the Shield MCD test will be accessable in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines starting from April 2026.
“The introduction of our Shield MCD test in Asia marks a critical milestone in our mission to transform early detection and expand commercial access globally,” said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. “Shield MCD has the potential to significantly increase screening participation in Asia with the promise of detecting multiple cancers at an early stage with just a blood draw.”
Steve Finch, President and CEO of Manulife Asia said, “This exclusive partnership demonstrates our commitment to offering innovative and differentiated solutions to improve the health outcomes.”
In the United States, the Shield MCD test has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on its strong performance in predicting the presence of cancers and cancer tissue of origin in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Vanguard Study evaluating emerging MCD technology.
Image caption- Harshal Shah, Chief Marketing Officer of Manulife Asia (left), and Simranjit Singh, CEO of Guardant Health AMEA (right)
