Major California Health System Launches Comprehensive Esophageal Precancer Testing Program Using Lucid Diagnostics' EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test

Rhea-AI Summary

Lucid Diagnostics (LUCD) has partnered with Hoag, a major California healthcare network, to implement EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test across its healthcare system. The partnership aims to expand access to esophageal precancer testing through Hoag's digestive health, primary care, and concierge medicine programs. Dr. Kenneth Chang, Executive Medical Director at Hoag's Digestive Health Institute, emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that esophageal cancer incidence has increased tenfold over four decades. EsoGuard offers a quick, 3-minute non-endoscopic test to identify at-risk patients. Lucid's CEO, Dr. Lishan Aklog, views this collaboration as a significant milestone in expanding EsoGuard's accessibility within large healthcare systems and expects it to serve as a model for future partnerships.

Positive

• Partnership with major healthcare network Hoag expands market reach and accessibility of EsoGuard test
• Strategic positioning as a model for future healthcare system partnerships
• Integration into multiple medical programs (digestive health, primary care, concierge medicine) increases potential test volume
• Addresses growing medical need with esophageal cancer cases increasing tenfold in past 40 years

Negative

• None.

Lucid to partner with Hoag in its mission to eradicate esophageal cancer by expanding access to EsoGuard precancer testing across its extensive healthcare delivery network

NEW YORK, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucid Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq: LUCD) ("Lucid" or the "Company"), a commercial-stage, cancer prevention medical diagnostics company, and subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq: PAVM), today announced that Hoag, a nationally-recognized regional healthcare delivery network, has launched a comprehensive, integrated esophageal precancer testing program using Lucid Diagnostics' EsoGuard^® Esophageal DNA Test. Lucid will partner with Hoag to offer EsoGuard testing across its digestive health, primary care, and concierge medicine programs.

"This is a game changer in our mission towards achieving an esophageal cancer-free Orange County," said Kenneth J. Chang, M.D., the James & Pamela Muzzy Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair in GI Cancer at Hoag's Digestive Health Institute. "The incidence of esophageal cancer has increased tenfold in the past four decades, yet most patients at risk are not being identified. Adding EsoGuard to our comprehensive esophageal cancer screening program here in Orange County is a critical step in finding patients who may be at risk, using a 3-minute non-endoscopic test, with the ultimate goal of saving lives."

"We are thrilled to partner with a renowned, world-class healthcare system like Hoag," said Lishan Aklog, M.D., Lucid's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "It's always great to find partners such as Dr. Chang and his colleagues who share our mission to eliminate the scourge of esophageal cancer. This partnership also represents an important milestone in expanding access to EsoGuard within large healthcare systems, and we expect our collaboration with Hoag will serve as a model for additional leading health systems to offer EsoGuard testing across their healthcare delivery networks." 

About Lucid Diagnostics
Lucid Diagnostics Inc. is a commercial-stage, cancer prevention medical diagnostics company and subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq: PAVM). Lucid is focused on the millions of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as chronic heartburn, who are at risk of developing esophageal precancer and cancer. Lucid's EsoGuard^® Esophageal DNA Test, performed on samples collected in a brief, noninvasive office procedure with its EsoCheck^® Esophageal Cell Collection Device, represent the first and only commercially available tools designed with the goal of preventing cancer and cancer deaths through widespread, early detection of esophageal precancer in at-risk patients.

For more information about Lucid, please visit www.luciddx.com and for more information about its parent company PAVmed, please visit www.pavmed.com.

About Hoag
Hoag is a nonprofit regional health care delivery system in Orange County, California. Delivering world-class, comprehensive personalized care, Hoag consists of 1,800 top physicians, 17 urgent care facilities, 11 health & wellness centers, and two award-winning hospitals. Hoag offers a comprehensive blend of health care services that includes seven institutes providing specialized services in areas such as cancer; digestive health; heart and vascular; neurosciences; spine; women's health; and orthopedics through Hoag Orthopedic Institute. Hoag is the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County by U.S. News & World Report and the only OC hospital ranked in California's Top 10 hospitals list. For more information about Hoag visit hoag.org.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are any statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Lucid's management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include, among other things, volatility in the price of Lucid's common stock; general economic and market conditions; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the cost and time required to advance Lucid's products to regulatory submission; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from Lucid's clinical and preclinical studies; whether and when Lucid's products are cleared by regulatory authorities; market acceptance of Lucid's products once cleared and commercialized; Lucid's ability to raise additional funding as needed; and other competitive developments. In addition, Lucid continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic's impact on Lucid's businesses. These factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond Lucid's control. In addition, new risks and uncertainties may arise from time to time and are difficult to predict. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect Lucid's future operations, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in Lucid's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same may be updated in Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Lucid Diagnostics after its most recent Annual Report.  Lucid disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Lucid Diagnostics

FAQ

What is the significance of Lucid Diagnostics' partnership with Hoag for LUCD stock?

The partnership represents a significant milestone for LUCD, expanding EsoGuard test accessibility through a major California healthcare network and serving as a potential model for future healthcare system partnerships

What is Lucid Diagnostics' EsoGuard test and how does it work?

EsoGuard is a 3-minute non-endoscopic DNA test designed to detect esophageal precancer, helping identify patients at risk of developing esophageal cancer

How will the Hoag partnership affect Lucid Diagnostics' market reach?

The partnership will expand EsoGuard testing across Hoag's digestive health, primary care, and concierge medicine programs throughout their healthcare delivery network in Orange County

Why is Lucid Diagnostics' EsoGuard test important for healthcare?

EsoGuard addresses a critical healthcare need, as esophageal cancer incidence has increased tenfold in the past four decades, yet most at-risk patients remain unidentified

Who are the key executives involved in the Lucid Diagnostics-Hoag partnership?

Dr. Lishan Aklog, Lucid's Chairman and CEO, and Dr. Kenneth J. Chang, Executive Medical Director at Hoag's Digestive Health Institute, are leading the partnership initiative