Merck KGaA supports new colorectal cancer awareness campaign

Merck KGaA, Merck Serono and Sysmex have joined forces to support the International Colorectal Cancer Association (ICCA) 'Get Tested' campaign, which raises awareness about colorectal cancer.

The launch of the campaign coincided with the inaugural World Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Day on March 24th.

Get Tested aims to boost awareness and understanding surrounding the importance of RAS biomarker testing in patients who have just been diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) by encouraging them to discuss the testing method with their doctor.

The ICCA will present an accompanying white paper to members of European parliament and national governing bodies, which calls on them to implement the routine use of such testing in newly-diagnosed mRCR patients.

Speaking at the campaign launch in Brussels, MEP Elisabetta Gardini, head of the Italian European People's Party, said: “mCRC is an example of where selecting a 'personalised', or 'precision', medicine approach through the use of biomarkers can potentially make a real difference to treatment success for patients."

She said a point needs to be reached whereby all people across the globe can be confident  that the appropriate diagnostic testing following a diagnosis of mCRC is available, no matter where the patient lives.