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
June 27, 2002
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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 of File Number) Identification
incorporation) Number)
358 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 27215
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(Address of principal executive offices)
336-229-1127
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered Trademark-Holdings
(LabCorp -Registered Trademark-)(NYSE:LH) announced the creation of an
exclusive, long-term strategic partnership to commercialize PreGen-
Plus-Trademark-, EXACT Sciences' proprietary, non-invasive technology
for the early detection of colorectal cancer in the average-risk
population. As part of the agreement, in addition to certain royalty
fees, LabCorp could pay EXACT Sciences as much as $75 million in
upfront, milestone and performance-based payments for a five-year
exclusive license, followed by a non-exclusive license for the life of
the patents. The introduction of Pre-Gen Plus, expected in the first
half of 2003, will mark the broadest commercial application of
discoveries made about the human genome to address a major healthcare
problem such as colorectal cancer-the most deadly cancer among non-
smokers in the United States. There is no other DNA-based test
currently available for the early detection of cancer in an average-
risk population.
It is estimated that this year approximately 150,000 Americans will be
diagnosed with colorectal cancer and approximately 57,000 Americans
will die from the disease. The American Cancer Society recommends that
the 80 million Americans who are over the age of 50 be screened
regularly for colorectal cancer, which, if detected at an early stage,
has a cure rate of more than 90 percent. A majority of people,
however, avoid screening because of the inconvenience and discomfort
associated with certain currently available screening methods, with the
result that most colorectal cancer cases are detected at a later stage
when the cure rate is less than 50 percent.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibit
20 Press release of the Company dated June 27, 2002.
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
and Secretary
Date: June 27, 2002