Medtronic plc, the exclusive global distributor of the GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module, and Exact Sciences, the maker of Cologuard®, will co-sponsor the San Jose Sharks hockey game on March 21, 2024, to celebrate Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) and bring attention to the importance of colorectal cancer screening as a critical step in helping patients avoid an otherwise often preventable disease. Medtronic will welcome 13-year-old colon cancer awareness advocate Grace Bowyer alongside both Medtronic and Exact Sciences executives to spotlight the importance of getting screened. The Sharks will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 p.m. PT at SAP Center in San Jose, CA.

In the U.S., colorectal cancer, despite being a preventable disease, is the second most common cause of all cancer deaths for men and women combined – approximately 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with this deadly disease in their lifetime.¹ When precancerous conditions are identified early by administering physicians, colorectal cancer can have a five-year survival rate of over 90%², underscoring the importance of colorectal cancer prevention and education. The CDC’s U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG),  recommend colorectal cancer screenings for average risk patients starting at age 45, which is younger than recommended screening guidelines for other forms of cancer such as prostate and lung cancer. The lower age screening guideline underscores the importance of raising awareness around patient risk and appropriate screening guidelines.

At seven years old, Northfield, Illinois native Grace Bowyer lost her mother to colon cancer. Following this unimaginable loss, Grace became an advocate for colon cancer patients and began making “Gracelets” – handmade bracelets – to raise money for colon cancer research. Moved by Grace’s story and perseverance, Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois established the Catherine Bowyer Research Foundation in Grace’s mother's memory. As of December 2023, the Foundation has raised more than $32,000 for colon cancer research. Now at 13 years old, Grace will attend the March 21 game and join executives from Medtronic and Exact Sciences in discussions around colon cancer and the importance of screening. Throughout the game, Grace will share “Gracelets” with players and spectators to raise colorectal cancer awareness and understanding of how research and prevention, including early screenings, can save lives.

In the U.S., colorectal cancer continues to pose a deadly threat despite being preventable with adequate health measures, including colorectal cancer screenings. Despite posing a nearly equal risk for men and women, there are cultural presumptions about colon cancer being a “men’s disease.” A new survey from Medtronic of 1,000 female adults, ages 18+, shows 1 in 3 women believe colorectal cancer impacts men more than women. Medtronic is committed to raising awareness and ensuring colorectal cancer prevention remains top-of-mind for patients of all ages and backgrounds, as well as healthcare professionals.

The GI Genius™ system sold by Medtronic validates the capacity of artificial intelligence (AI) to significantly improve diagnostic accuracy by serving as a second set of eyes for clinicians, demonstrating 99.7% sensitivity rate³ when screening for polyp detection. Medtronic’s advanced detection system empowers physicians to detect colorectal polyps more efficiently, generating improved outcomes for patients and showing what’s possible when incorporating AI innovation in healthcare.

About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn.

About Exact Sciences Corp.
A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences gives patients and health care professionals the clarity needed to take life-changing action earlier. Building on the success of the Cologuard® and Oncotype® tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its pipeline to develop innovative solutions for use before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. For more information, visit ExactSciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on X (formerly known as Twitter) @ExactSciences, or find Exact Sciences on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Cologuard is a registered trademark of Exact Sciences Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

Oncotype, Oncotype DX, Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score and OncoExTra are registered trademarks of Genomic Health, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exact Sciences Corporation.

References

1. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
2. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html#:~:text=When%20colorectal%20cancer%20is%20found,found%20at%20this%20early%20stage
3. Hassan C, Wallace MB, Sharma P, Maselli R, Craviotto V, Spadaccini M, Repici A. New artificial intelligence system: first validation study versus experienced endoscopists for colorectal polyp detection. Gut. 2020 May;69(5):799-800. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319914. Epub 2019 Oct 15. PMID: 31615835.
    

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.