Guardant’s Shield blood test [Image courtesy of Guardant Health]
Guardant Health’s Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening has taken home the prize for best medical technology at the 2026 Prix Galien USA awards.
Held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the 20th annual winner was selected from 23 entrants spanning radiosurgery systems, medical implants, diagnostics and pocket-sized devices.
Guardant also saw its Guardant360 liquid biopsy test return to the Prix Galien’s list of nominees, following its own win in the category in 2023. To be honored, a product must have received FDA approval within the past five years.
Shield obtained its green light in mid-2024 as the agency’s first blood test for colorectal cancer screening among adults at an average risk for the disease, ages 45 and up. While not a replacement for colonoscopy, the test detects fragments of tumor-related DNA and results are aimed at funneling patients toward the gold-standard exam. Shield has shown 91 percent sensitivity in spotting growing tumors in clinical studies.
Earlier this month, the company put forward a model that projected regular blood testing could lead to higher numbers of colonoscopies and averted deaths due to colorectal cancer compared to stool-based exams, including fecal immunochemical tests and genomic assays.
Presented at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting in Nashville, Guardant also highlighted a study of rural clinics in South Carolina posting a 99 percent real-world Shield screening adherence rate.
The Prix Galien awards honored AEYE Health’s artificial intelligence-powered system, which checks point-of-care retinal scans for signs of diabetic retinopathy, as the year’s best digital health solution.
The Evoque tricuspid valve [Image courtesy of Edwards Lifesciences]
The foundation also held its biennial International Prix Galien contest, which has previous national winners face off from around the world.
The Edwards Lifesciences Evoque transcatheter tricuspid valve took home that global medtech trophy, after winning in 2025.
Evaxion’s AI-Immunology platform was awarded the international prize in digital health, for its work supporting the development of novel immunotherapies for cancer, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The Danish developer previously won the Prix Galien UK Award in June, and the award for best medical technology or AI advances in the Nordic, European and Middle Eastern countries in December 2025.