The promise of precision oncology has never been stronger, but for many patients, the path from diagnosis to the right treatment remains slow and fragmented. In Avalon’s webinar, Amanda Bruemmer and Matt Ingram, Product Vice President overseeing oncology innovation, explored a critical disconnect: while genetic testing and targeted therapies have advanced rapidly, care delivery has not kept pace. As a result, patients often begin treatment before complete biomarker testing is available – delaying optimal therapy and increasing the risk of ineffective care.
A System Advanced in Science, but Fragmented in Practice
Oncology has seen major progress in targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and genetic testing. However, the systems responsible for applying these advances remain disjointed. Patients frequently encounter delays due to prior authorization, incomplete or late genetic testing, and difficulty aligning therapies with evolving clinical guidelines. In many cases, treatment begins without full molecular insight, leading to suboptimal outcomes and unnecessary side effects.
The Scale of the Gap
This issue is widespread. Data shared during the webinar highlighted significant misalignment between testing and treatment:
- Only 18% of non-small cell lung cancer patients receive all recommended genetic testing
- 43% of patients received targeted therapies without supporting test evidence
- 44% of patients with actionable biomarkers were not treated according to guidelines
These gaps reflect a broader challenge: even when the right data exists, it is not consistently used to guide care.
Liquid Biopsy: Accelerating Access to Answers
A key focus was the role of liquid biopsy—a non-invasive blood test that detects tumor-derived biomarkers. With over 94% concordance with tissue biopsy and the ability to increase biomarker detection by 40% when used alongside traditional methods, liquid biopsy offers a faster path to actionable insights. Introducing it earlier in the care journey can help reduce delays and improve therapy alignment.
Why the Problem Persists
Despite strong science, several systemic barriers remain:
- Delays from prior authorization
- Difficulty keeping clinical pathways current
- Limited visibility into appropriate testing options
- Lack of coordination across testing, authorization, and treatment
The result is a fragmented process that slows time to optimal care.
Avalon’s Approach: Connecting the Dots
Avalon is working to address these gaps through a more integrated model that includes:
- Early, reflexive genetic testing following diagnosis
- A curated network of high-quality lab partners
- Automated prior authorization for approved tests and therapies
- Analytics to track outcomes, utilization, and cost
The goal is to reduce time to optimal therapy from 30–60 days to under 7 days.
Early Results: Faster Treatment, Better Alignment
Initial pilot results show promising impact:
- Time to treatment reduced to as few as 7 days
- Increased alignment between testing and therapy
- Reduction in manual prior authorization
Additionally, early data suggests that comprehensive biomarker testing can lower total cost of care—saving up to $125,000 per patient in some cases—by avoiding ineffective treatments and reducing downstream utilization.
A Path Forward for Oncology Care
The webinar emphasized that improving oncology outcomes now requires more than scientific advancement—it requires operational alignment. By reducing administrative friction and ensuring timely, evidence-based decisions, health plans and providers can improve outcomes, lower costs, and deliver a more seamless patient experience.
The takeaway is clear: the future of oncology depends on closing the gap between what is possible and what is delivered.
