Sun Life taps Medzown to steer high-cost members into clinical trials

Sun Life US  is teaming up with Medzown, a precision medicine company, to connect employees at self-insured employers with clinical trials for cancer and other complex conditions.

The pitch is aimed at Sun Life’s stop-loss clients. Medzown uses an AI-driven model to flag members facing a cancer diagnosis, rare disease, or complex ortho/MSK condition who might benefit from advanced treatment — including enrollment in a clinical trial — and then routes them there with the help of precision-medicine scientists and personal navigators. The idea is to catch high-cost cases early, before they escalate.

The cost angle is the whole point. Per Sun Life’s 2026 high-cost claims report, cancer runs about $252,000 per person per year and ortho/MSK about $120,000. For self-funded employers, who carry the financial risk on these claims, getting members into the right therapy sooner can improve outcomes and curb long-term specialty drug spend — which is also where Sun Life’s stop-loss coverage kicks in.

Medzown, founded in 2022 by Dr. Jennifer Levin Carter, joins Sun Life’s existing health lineup, which includes expert claim reviews, care navigation, and second-opinion services. Sun Life is the largest independent medical stop-loss provider in the U.S.