Labcorp Collaborates with Blood Centers of America to Expand Research in Cell and Gene Therapy

BURLINGTON, N.C., and WEST WARWICK, R.I., April 30, 2021 — Labcorp (NYSE: LH), through its drug development business, Covance by Labcorp, a global leader in nonclinical safety assessment, clinical trial testing, and clinical trial management services, and Blood Centers of America (BCA), the nation’s largest network of blood centers, today announced that they have entered into an agreement to expand research opportunities in the areas of cell and gene therapy.

The relationship builds on current product and service offerings of the two organizations. Covance by Labcorp will use cells collected by BCA members who have opted into the program to support expanded lab research and development of new cell and gene therapies. BCA clients that are in the early development phases of clinical trials, including those requiring cell-based starting material for drug development, will have a more direct line to offerings provided by Covance by Labcorp. 

“The partnership with Blood Centers of America will further strengthen access to clinical trials and research, especially in the areas of cell and gene therapy, which are potential treatments for conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and blood disorders,” said Bill Hanlon, Ph.D., president of clinical, therapeutic, and regulatory sciences at Covance by Labcorp. “Covance by Labcorp remains committed to being a proactive leader in the development of cell and gene therapies. This partnership solidifies our mission to improve the health and lives of those we serve.”

Cell and gene therapies modify a person’s genes to treat disease in three general ways: replacing a gene that is causing a disease with a healthy copy; inactivating a gene that is not functioning properly; or introducing a new or modified gene into the body to help treat disease. Cell and gene therapy is being tested for use in the treatment of many diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, various forms of blood cancer, and blood disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. Covance by Labcorp’s specialized expertise, coordinated capabilities, and focused investments across the preclinical, clinical, and post-approval phases of development will enable the company to reduce the time and risks associated with developing these new cell and gene therapies.

Additionally, Covance by Labcorp clients that need healthy serum in order to validate tests or new blood products will now have access to blood and blood products through BCA and its members. Samples collected by BCA members are given to Labcorp with the patient’s permission. The partnership also enables trials to include more diverse populations as BCA’s network of blood centers are spread throughout the United States.

“We are excited to collaborate with Covance by Labcorp and further our mission to support patients by providing access to new therapies formulated from allogeneic products from healthy donors, or autologous materials, which are patient derived,” said Bill Block, president and CEO, BCA. “This partnership is another opportunity for the advancement of cell and gene therapies as our BCA members are uniquely positioned in their local communities to support on-site cell processing, cryopreservation and storage needs of researchers in a cGMP environment to support the development and delivery of cell therapies and clinical trials.”

Photo Courtesy: Blood Centers of America

About Labcorp

Labcorp is a leading global life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. Through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development capabilities, we provide insights and accelerate innovations to improve health and improve lives. With more than 70,000 employees, we serve clients in more than 100 countries. Labcorp (NYSE: LH) reported revenue of $14 billion in FY2020. Learn about Covance by Labcorp at www.Covance.com, and Labcorp at www.Labcorp.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @Labcorp.

 

About Blood Centers of America

BCA is the nation’s largest blood supply network, providing over 50 percent of the nation’s blood supply. This national organization is comprised of over 60 independent community blood centers with a deep local commitment to the communities and patients they serve.  

The BCA network encompasses over 500 collection and testing sites across the United States. In addition to meeting the transfusion needs of the communities they serve, BCA members provide human blood products, custom collections, cell processing, testing, storage, distribution, and other services to the therapeutic, diagnostic, and cell therapy industries. BCA members actively collect and provide critical raw materials for manufacturing of autologous and allogeneic cell-based therapies. Collectively, BCA’s members interact with nearly 3 million individual blood donors annually. Learn more about BCA at www.bca.coop or follow us on Linked In and Twitter @BCAbloodcenters.  
 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements with respect to [our responses to and the expected future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,] scientific collaborations, customer contracts and relationships, the anticipated benefits of such collaboration and relationships, and the expected impact that the various collaborations and customer relationships may have on the Company’s financial results. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change based on various important factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including without limitation, [whether our [responses to the COVID-19 pandemic] will prove [effective/appropriate]], the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and financial condition as well as on general economic, business, and market conditions, the Company’s ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other scientific collaborations, competitive actions in the marketplace, changes in government regulations, including healthcare reform, customer purchasing decisions, including changes in payer regulations or policies, adverse actions of governmental and other third-party payers, patient safety issues, changes in testing guidelines or recommendations, and federal, state, and local governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect the Company’s ability to implement the company’s business strategy and actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. The Company has no obligation to provide any updates to these forward-looking statements even if its expectations change. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Further information on potential factors, risks and uncertainties that could affect operating and financial results is included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, including in each case under the heading RISK FACTORS, and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC.

 

Contacts

Media: Christopher Allman-Bradshaw — 336-436-8263 
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Investors: Chas Cook— 336-436-5076                
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