Galleri cancer tests: Controversial NHS trial fails to meet key goal

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s364.short?rss=1...

Published: 2026-02-24T03:51:05-08:00

Galleri's controversial blood test, which promises to detect more cancers at early stages, failed to meet a key NHS trial aim - to significantly reduce cases of stage III-IV cancers. Developed by US company Grail, the test uses sequencing to analyze fragments of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood, testing for more than 50 types of cancer from a single sample. The test retails for $949 (£700, €800). Grail investors were informed last week of the results of the multi-million dollar NHS-Galleri study. The results threaten a deal that would see the NHS buy millions of tests and Grail build a state-of-the-art facility in the UK. In 2020, Grail announced funding of £150 million to test the tests.