Guardant Health's FDA Approval Boosts Stock Amid Market Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 19 2024
0mins
Source: Business Insider
Guardant Health Inc. shares rose 4.35% during regular trading, reaching a 20-day high, despite the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 both experiencing declines.
The stock's increase is attributed to the recent FDA approval of Guardant360 Liquid CDx, which enhances cancer testing by integrating genomic and epigenomic insights, significantly improving accuracy and timeliness in clinical decision-making. This approval solidifies Guardant's leadership in precision oncology and is expected to boost its market share in cancer diagnostics.
The FDA approval not only enhances the company's product offerings but also positions Guardant Health for future growth, as the new test serves as a companion diagnostic for multiple therapies and is broadly covered by Medicare and commercial insurers, impacting over 300 million lives.
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Analyst Views on GH
Wall Street analysts forecast GH stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 133.220
Low
105.00
Averages
124.69
High
155.00
Current: 133.220
Low
105.00
Averages
124.69
High
155.00
About GH
Guardant Health, Inc. is a precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. It provides critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data, and artificial intelligence (AI) analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and helping doctors select the treatment for patients with advanced cancer. For patients with advanced-stage cancer, it has developed Guardant360 laboratory developed test (LDT), and Guardant360 CDx test, a comprehensive liquid biopsy test to provide tumor mutation profiling with solid tumors and to be used as a companion diagnostic in connection with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and breast cancer. It offers other tests, including Guardant360 Tissue test, Guardant Reveal blood test, Guardant360 Response blood test and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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See More
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See More
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- Market Leadership: This test is the largest FDA-approved liquid biopsy panel, assessing a genomic footprint 100 times wider than the previous Guardant360 CDx, further solidifying Guardant's leadership position in precision oncology.
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See More
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- Clinical Trial Progress: Bempikibart is currently undergoing a Phase 2a clinical trial, with topline data expected in mid-2026; early results indicate a 16% mean reduction in SALT scores at Week 24 for treated patients, demonstrating promising efficacy that could enhance the company's market performance.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the financing announcement, Q32 Bio's stock surged over 85%, closing at $12.85, reflecting investor confidence in the company's growth potential and likely attracting further interest in its upcoming clinical developments.
- Significant Industry Impact: The successful financing and clinical trial outcomes will bolster Q32 Bio's competitiveness in the biotechnology sector, particularly in the alopecia treatment market, potentially generating new revenue streams and strengthening its market position.
See More
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- Antibiotic Market Expansion: Sunshine Biopharma received Canadian approval for its generic Amoxicillin, with shipments expected to begin in August 2026, aiming to increase access to high-quality antibiotics for treating common infections, which is anticipated to drive revenue growth for the company.
- Liquid Biopsy Technology Innovation: Guardant Health gained FDA approval for Guardant360 Liquid CDx, now the largest liquid biopsy panel with a genomic footprint 100 times broader than its predecessor, enhancing tumor profiling capabilities and expected to boost the company's market share in precision medicine.
- New Hypertension Drug Launch: AstraZeneca received FDA approval for BAXFENDY for hypertension patients, based on positive results from the BaxHTN Phase III trial, which is expected to strengthen the company's competitive position in the cardiovascular drug market and further expand its product line.
See More
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- FDA Approval: Guardant Health's Guardant360 Liquid CDx has received FDA approval, boasting several times the sensitivity of the existing Guardant360 CDx, enabling the integration of genomic and epigenomic signals from a single blood draw, significantly enhancing cancer detection accuracy.
- Clinical Decision Support: The FDA approval will empower clinicians to make better-informed treatment decisions for patients with advanced cancer, thereby improving treatment outcomes and survival rates, which is expected to boost the company's market share in cancer diagnostics.
- Indication Transfer: The new Guardant360 Liquid CDx will inherit seven previously approved companion diagnostic indications from Guardant360 CDx, further solidifying the clinical application foundation of the new test and enhancing physician trust in the product.
- Future Vision: Co-CEO Helmy Eltoukhy remarked that this approval brings the company closer to realizing the vision of “every physician having the right information at the right time to make the right decision,” marking a strategic advancement in the cancer diagnostics field.
See More
Guardant Health Receives FDA Approval for New Liquid Biopsy
- FDA Approval: Guardant Health announced that its Guardant360 Liquid CDx has received FDA approval, marking a significant advancement in blood-based comprehensive genomic testing that can provide broader tumor analysis.
- Expanded Genomic Coverage: The new product assesses a genomic footprint 100 times wider than the previously approved Guardant360 CDx, enabling more comprehensive tumor profiling that aids physicians in developing more effective treatment plans.
- Smart Platform Upgrade: Powered by the company's Smart Platform, all product offerings have been upgraded to this proprietary AI-enabled multiomic technology platform, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of cancer testing.
- Positive Stock Reaction: In pre-market trading on Nasdaq, Guardant's shares rose 3.88% to $102.00, reflecting the market's positive response to the new product and optimistic expectations for future growth.
See More
Guardant Health's New FDA-Approved Liquid Biopsy Enhances Cancer Testing
- Liquid Biopsy Innovation: The FDA approval of Guardant360® Liquid CDx integrates genomic and epigenomic insights, providing a more comprehensive cancer testing solution that significantly enhances the accuracy and timeliness of clinical decision-making.
- Market Leadership: This test is the largest FDA-approved liquid biopsy panel, assessing a genomic footprint 100 times wider than the previous Guardant360 CDx, further solidifying Guardant's leadership position in precision oncology.
- Rapid Result Delivery: The new test delivers results in as little as seven days, ensuring that physicians have the necessary information for treatment decisions regardless of tissue availability, line of therapy, or practice setting, thus accelerating patient care.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Guardant360 Liquid CDx serves as a companion diagnostic for multiple therapies and is broadly covered by Medicare and commercial insurers, impacting over 300 million lives, highlighting its significance and potential in the market.
See More
Guardant Health Grants RSUs to 267 New Employees
- Employee Incentive Plan: On April 21, 2026, Guardant Health approved the grant of 143,898 restricted stock units (RSUs) to 267 new non-executive employees as an inducement for joining the company, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
- Grant Details: The RSUs will be granted on May 11, 2026, and one-third of the shares will vest annually on the anniversary of the grant date, contingent upon each employee's continued employment with Guardant at each vesting date.
- Strategic Importance: By implementing this incentive, Guardant Health aims to attract and retain key talent, enhancing its competitive position in the precision oncology sector while driving innovation and business growth.
- Company Background: Founded in 2012, Guardant Health focuses on transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies through advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data, and AI analytics, aiming to improve outcomes in early cancer detection and treatment selection.
See More
