Manulife Singapore has partnered with Guardant Health, Inc, a precision oncology biotechnology company headquartered in Palo Alto California, to avail Shield multi-cancer detection (MCD) laboratory developed test (LDT) in Singapore from May 2026. Shield MCD test won the Oncology Product Innovation of the Year at the recent Healthcare Asia Medtech Awards. It has also been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This exclusive Asia partnership spans Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore and Manulife Singapore is the first insurer in Singapore to offer this to eligible customers.
“As people live longer, the real question is how well we live those years,” said Benoit Meslet, President and CEO, Manulife Singapore. “Our role is to help customers take charge of their health and finances with confidence. By giving them early visibility into their health, we are helping them make better decisions today, so they can live well for years to come.”
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Singapore, accounting for 26.5% of all deaths in 2024. Early detection is important. Findings from Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025 show that 53% of Singapore consumers believe cancer to be the most difficult illness to prevent.
The Shield MCD test is a methylation-based blood test for the detection of multiple cancer types including bladder, colorectal, breast, prostate, esophageal, gastric, liver, lung, ovarian and pancreas cancer in individuals aged 45 or older who are at typical average risk for cancer. It enables proactive health management.
With just a blood draw, the Shield MCD test screens for 10 of the most common cancers, many of which have high mortality rates in Singapore.
“The introduction of our Shield MCD test in Asia marks a critical milestone in our mission to transform early detection and expand commercial access globally,” said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. “We built our Shield technology from the ground-up nearly 10 years ago with a vision to address the most common cancers where early detection is a critical component to survivorship. Shield MCD has the potential to significantly increase screening participation in Asia with the promise of detecting multiple cancers at an early stage with just a blood draw.”
A Manulife spokesperson in Singapore shared “The Shield Multi-Cancer Detection test is currently offered as part of a phased roll out to customers, reflecting our broader focus on improving access to emerging health and preventive care solutions. By introducing the test in phases, we can ensure customers receive the right support and experience as awareness of multi-cancer detection screening continues to grow in Singapore.”
Currently Manulife Singapore customers in Singapore can access Guardant360 Liquid test for advanced solid tumours. Thorugh this expanded partnership and introduction of the Shield MCD test, customers will have access to an innovative and differentiated solution that address real, unmet health needs.