UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
AUGUST 5, 1997
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Date of earliest event reported)
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 1-11353 13-3757370
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(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction or File Number) Identification
organization) Number)
358 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 27215
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(Address of principal executive offices)
910-229-1127
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On August 5, 1997, the Company issued a press release announcing that it has
become the first commercial reference laboratory to offer HIV genotyping using
GeneChip-Registered Trademark- DNA probe arrays and polymerse chain reaction
(PCR) based assays.
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits
20 Press release of the Registrant dated August 5, 1997.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
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(Registrant)
By:/s/ BRADFORD T. SMITH
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Bradford T. Smith
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel, Secretary
and Compliance Officer
Date: August 11, 1997
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pamela Sherry
910-584-5171, Ext. 4855
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA-TM- BECOMES
FIRST COMMERCIAL LABORATORY TO OFFER HIV GENOTYPING SERVICES
USING AFFYMETRIX GENECHIP-Registered Trademark- TECHNOLOGY
BURLINGTON, NC, AUGUST 5, 1997 - Laboratory Corporation of America-TM- Holdings
(LabCorp-TM-) (NYSE: LH) today announced that it is the first commercial
reference laboratory to offer HIV genotyping using GeneChip-Registered
Trademark- DNA probe arrays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays.
GeneChip probe arrays will be supplied by Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFX) for
use in the assays.
HIV genotyping using the GeneChip probe arrays and PCR-based assays enables
clinical researchers and physicians to rapidly determine the patterns of HIV
mutations present in an individual. Although recent breakthroughs in HIV
treatment involving combinations of antiviral drugs may dramatically reduce
viral levels in patients, particular combinations of drugs may be less
effective in patients who have developed drug resistance as a result of
mutations in their virus.
"We are extremely excited to be the commercial laboratory leader in offering
this innovative HIV service," said Thomas P. Mac Mahon, President and Chief
Executive Officer of LabCorp. "By combining DNA chip technology with PCR
expertise at LabCorp's Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology located in
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, we are furthering our goal of becoming
the premier reference laboratory for HIV patient care." Specialists at the
Center's infectious disease laboratory focus on state-of-the-art technologies
such as PCR and DNA probes to improve patient care by rapidly detecting,
identifying, and quantifying pathogens. The facility maintains a team of
expert professionals that specialize in a wide variety of esoteric testing
services, cutting-edge research and development, education, and training in
such areas as oncology, genetics, and infectious disease.
"We are pleased that LabCorp, one of the leading reference laboratories for
molecular diagnostic testing, will be offering HIV genotyping services using
the GeneChip technology," stated Dr. Stephen P.A. Fodor, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Affymetrix. The Affymetrix GeneChip HIV probe
arrays have been commercially available for research in the U.S. since April
1996. The services provided by LabCorp using these probe arrays enable
accurate, rapid and cost-effective sequence analysis of certain genes contained
In HIV-1, subtype B.
Laboratory Corporation of America-TM- Holdings (LabCorp-TM-) is a national
clinical laboratory organization with annualized revenues of $1.6 billion in
1996. The Company operates primary testing facilities nationally, offering
more than 1,700 different clinical assays, from routine blood analysis to
more sophisticated technologies. LabCorp performs diagnostic tests for
physicians, managed care organizations, hospitals, clinics, long-term care
facilities, industrial companies and other clinical laboratories.
LabCorp noted that each of the above forward-looking statements was subject to
change based on various important factors, including without limitation,
competitive actions in the marketplace and adverse actions of governmental and
other third-party payors. Further information on potential factors that could
affect the Company's financial results is included in the Company's Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1996.
