Abbott to Close $21B Deal for Exact Sciences on March 23

Abbott revealed that it anticipates to close the acquisition of Exact Sciences on March 23, 2026. The announcement follows the receipt of all regulatory clearances necessary for closing.

Exact Sciences is a company focused on cancer screening, precision oncology, and genetic testing to help detect cancer earlier, guide treatment decisions, and monitor for recurrence. The acquisition bolster’s Abbott’s position and capabilities in diagnostics, positioning the company to advance technologies that are more preventative, predictive, and personalized.

The deal also expands Abbott’s presence in a fast-growing area in healthcare as cancer incidence continues to rise across the world. It also adds a new growth vertical to Abbott’s high-single-digit growth expectations, cementing leadership in the $60 billion U.S. cancer screening and precision oncology diagnostic segments.

Exact Sciences’ products include the Cologuard test, a noninvasive colorectal cancer screening option, as well as Oncotype DX, which informed personalized treatment decisions for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Its Oncodetect is a tumor informed molecular residual disease (MRD) test to identify cancer recurrence and guide follow-up care, and Cancerguard is a multi-cancer early cancer detection blood test.

The company is also advancing a pipeline of next-gen cancer diagnostics designed to detect cancer even earlier.

The transaction is anticipated to add about $3 million of incremental sales in 2026, expand Abbott’s sales growth by about 0.5%, and dilute 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) by approximately $0.20.

“Proactively shaping the portfolio to anticipate future medical needs while building long-term shareholder value remains at the core of our strategic framework,” said Robert B. Ford, chairman and CEO of Abbott. “The addition of Exact Sciences enhances Abbott’s growth profile and strengthens our leadership in diagnostics. This transaction brings a powerful new platform in cancer screening and diagnostics into Abbott, advancing our mission to make care more accessible and give people more control over their health.”