Guardant Health, a US-based biotechnology company, plans to introduce a blood-based multi-cancer detection (MCD) test in India in collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences. This test, known as 'Shield', aims to facilitate early detection of various cancers, including gastric, esophageal, liver, and breast cancers, among others. The initiative comes as India grapples with a high cancer burden and late diagnosis rates of 60-70%, which significantly hampers treatment success. Guardant Health's CEO for Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Simranjit Singh, emphasized the importance of early detection, stating that it can improve survival rates by 3 to 10 times, with some cancers achieving up to 90% survival when detected early. The company is currently negotiating with around 10 hospital chains and laboratories to roll out the test. Pricing is still being finalized, but the colorectal cancer screening test is estimated to cost ₹1.4 lakh (approximately $1,495) in the US. Guardant’s push into early detection represents a strategic shift from advanced cancer diagnostics, aiming to reduce the mortality-to-incidence ratio in India, which currently stands at 57%.