Labcorp has introduced a new blood test to detect the tau protein, which accumulates in the brain after the buildup of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. This test is now available to doctors and drugmakers, offering a simple way to predict the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease in individuals.
As flu season approaches, at-home flu tests are becoming more popular. There are two options available: one that requires sending a nasal swab to a lab for analysis and another that provides results at home within 30 minutes. These new tests target the genetic material of the virus, making them more accurate than rapid antigen tests. However, the cost of these tests may be a deterrent for some, raising concerns about equity in testing. While getting a flu diagnosis is important, it doesn't necessarily have to be through at-home testing. Experts suggest that for many cases, visiting a doctor's office may be the most efficient option. Nonetheless, having pipelines in place for the development of new at-home test systems could be beneficial in handling future pandemics.
Labcorp has completed the spinoff of Fortrea, a life science firm based in Durham, with 19,000 employees. Fortrea will focus on Phase I-IV clinical trial management and technology solutions. Labcorp shareholders will receive one share of Fortrea stock, and the company made a cash distribution of $1.6 billion to Labcorp as part of the deal. Fortrea will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol "FTRE" and will be led by CEO Tom Pike.