Abbott’s Next Growth Platform: Cancer Diagnostics

Key Takeaways

• Cancer diagnostics grew 13% in the second quarter of 2026, driven by Cologuard^®, precision oncology and continued international expansion.
• Abbott expects cancer diagnostics growth to accelerate in the second half of the year.
• Key growth drivers include new Cologuard^® users, rescreening, care-gap programs, international expansion and recently launched tests.
• Abbott's portfolio spans the cancer care continuum with Cologuard^®, Cancerguard®, Oncotype DX^® and Oncodetect® tests.
• Analysts view cancer diagnostics as a meaningful long-term growth driver for Abbott.

Why did Abbott expand into cancer diagnostics?

Cancer diagnostics is already contributing meaningfully to Abbott's growth, driven largely by Cologuard^® as well as precision oncology and international expansion, while multi-cancer early detection (MCED) and molecular residual disease (MRD) testing are positioned to power the next wave of growth. Cancer diagnostics sits at the intersection of two important healthcare dynamics: rising rates of cancer worldwide and significant screening gaps for some cancers.

Cancer remains one of the world’s most significant health challenges, with approximately 20 million¹ new cases and 10 million¹ deaths globally each year, including more than 2 million in the U.S.  Yet, most cancers have no recommended screening³, and nearly 40%⁴ of screening-eligible Americans are not up to date on screening for colorectal cancer (CRC), the leading cause of cancer death in people under age 50⁵.

Those trends are creating demand for technologies that can detect cancer earlier, guide treatment decisions and monitor for recurrence. Abbott's approach to cancer diagnostics extends beyond a single product or type of cancer, with a portfolio spanning the continuum of cancer care:

How is Abbott positioned in the cancer diagnostics market?

Abbott has a clear blueprint for building category leadership. When we acquired St. Jude Medical in 2017, we scaled its cardiovascular business, evolving it and adding new capabilities to create a cardiovascular platform that today is one of the most comprehensive in the industry, spanning heart tech for diagnosis, treatment and long-term management.

The opportunity in cancer diagnostics is similar. Abbott cancer diagnostics brings together the industry-leading capabilities Exact Sciences built in early cancer detection, therapy selection and recurrence monitoring with Abbott's global scale, commercial reach and healthcare system relationships. By combining those strengths, we will accelerate adoption and expand access around the world.

"Our goal in doing this is to actually be across the entire cancer diagnostics span, and we believe that Exact was definitely a beachhead building block for us to do that," Chairman and CEO Robert Ford said on Abbott's Q1 earnings call.

How is cancer diagnostics contributing to Abbott’s financial results?

Cancer diagnostics is expected to be one of the key drivers of Abbott's anticipated growth acceleration in the second half of 2026, alongside nutrition, electrophysiology and core laboratory diagnostics. In the second quarter, cancer diagnostics sales grew 13%, driven by mid-teens Cologuard^® growth, supported by both new and repeat users. In May, the American Cancer Society reaffirmed Cologuard^® and Cologuard Plus^® as preferred noninvasive CRC screening options, reinforcing the role of stool-based testing in expanding early detection. 

Looking ahead, Abbott expects cancer diagnostics growth in the second half of the year to be higher than in the first half, driven by:

• Growth in new Cologuard^® users
• Growing rescreening population for Cologuard^®
• Increasing Cologuard^® volumes from care gap programs, health system- and health plan-initiated programs designed to identify people who are overdue for preventive healthcare and connect them with resources
• Continued adoption of Cologuard Plus^®
• Growth in precision oncology
• International expansion

How is Abbott building leadership in precision oncology?

Precision oncology uses molecular information, from tumor tissue or circulating DNA in the blood, to help guide treatment decisions and monitor outcomes. Abbott's flagship precision oncology product, Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score®, is a genomic tumor tissue test for early-stage breast cancer that helps predict the likelihood of distant cancer recurrence and whether a patient is likely to benefit from the addition of chemotherapy to endocrine therapy.

As one of the most diagnosed cancers worldwide, breast cancer represents a significant opportunity to improve patient care through more personalized treatment decisions. The Oncotype DX^® test is included in all major international breast cancer treatment guidelines and has become an important tool for oncologists, helping identify patients most likely to benefit from chemotherapy while sparing others from unnecessary treatment. Today, it is a key driver of Abbott’s precision oncology business and provides a strong foundation as the portfolio expands into new indications and next generation innovations.

Why is Abbott investing in multi-cancer early detection?

Nearly 70% of annual cancer cases and deaths occur in cancers for which there is no recommended screening^6,7,8, leaving millions of people without an opportunity for early detection. As a result, many cancers are diagnosed only after symptoms appear, when they may be more difficult to treat. Today, only about 14% of cancers are detected through screening⁹, underscoring the need for new approaches to help find cancer earlier.

Abbott is investing in MCED to help address this unmet need. Our Cancerguard^® test detects signals associated with dozens of cancers from a single blood sample, with the long-term vision of expanding access to screening and helping detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. Abbott is also collaborating with leading researchers, healthcare organizations and patient advocacy groups to help advance the science and future adoption of MCED screening.

How can molecular residual disease testing improve cancer care?

For many people, cancer care continues long after initial diagnosis and treatment. MRD testing can help identify signs that cancer may still be present or has returned, providing valuable information to help guide follow-up care.

Abbott's Oncodetect^® test is designed to detect trace amounts of tumor DNA in the blood, helping clinicians monitor patients after treatment. In clinical studies, Oncodetect® detected cancer recurrence up to two years earlier than imaging¹⁰, giving physicians the opportunity to identify recurrence sooner. As precision oncology continues to evolve, MRD testing is expected to play an increasingly important role in cancer care.

What is Wall Street's view of Abbott's cancer diagnostics business?

Analysts broadly pointed to cancer diagnostics as a key contributor to Abbott's growth outlook following our Q2 financial results. In their post-earnings report, RBC Capital Markets wrote:

"Cancer Diagnostics is exceeding expectations on new Cologuard^® users with care gap volumes ramping in 2H. We believe ABT has strong line of sight to achieving the upper end of its 6.5-7.5% comparable growth guide and see potential for upside as these drivers continue to inflect."

Multiple firms highlighted these growth catalysts for cancer diagnostics:

• Better-than-anticipated growth in new Cologuard^® users
• Care gap program momentum
• International expansion opportunities
• Long-term contributions from Cancerguard^® and precision oncology

What is next for Abbott's cancer diagnostics business?

Abbott is investing in a pipeline of next-generation technologies, including blood-based CRC testing and MRD platforms with improved accuracy. Abbott is also targeting opportunities within specific cancers, such as liver cancer, where screening is limited.

International expansion represents another significant opportunity. Many markets remain underpenetrated, and Abbott's global infrastructure provides a pathway to expand access and drive adoption to cancer screening and diagnostics.

"I travelled to Asia and Europe in the first quarter, and I spoke to health ministers. Top three priorities included getting cancer screening up and going in their countries," Ford said in Q1. "They see it as a problem, and they see Abbott as one of the solutions."

Dig deeper

• Download cancer diagnostics one pager
• Explore our cancer diagnostics products
• Read about Abbott's presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2026 annual meeting
• Learn about advancements in Cancerguard® MCED test

References

¹ 2022 values per American Cancer Society Global Cancer Facts and Figures; 5th edition

² 2025 values per American Cancer Society Cancer statistics, 2025

³ American Cancer Society: Multi-cancer Detection (MCD) Tests | American Cancer Society

⁴ Centers for Disease Control: Baseline Estimates of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Adults Aged 45 to 75 Years, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022

⁵ American Cancer Society: Press Releases

⁶ Siegel RL, Kratzer TB, Giaquinto AN, et al. Cancer statistics, 2025. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025;75:10-45.

⁷ Data on file. Cancers without USPSTF recommended screening. 2025. Medical Affairs, Exact Sciences, Madison, WI

⁸ USPSTF. A & B Recommendations: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation-topics/uspstf-a-and-b-recommendations

⁹ NORC University of Chicago: State-Specific PCDSs chart 1213.pdf

¹⁰ Diergaarde B, Young G, Hall DW, Mazloom A, Costa G, Subramaniam S, Palomares M, Garces J, Baehner FL, Schoen RE; and other members of the Exact Sciences MRD Group. Circulating tumor DNA as a marker of recurrence risk in Stage III colorectal cancer: The α‐CORRECT study. Journal of Surgical Oncology.