The company that convinced Arizona leaders to change state law so it could do business here has lost its biggest client. Late Sunday, Walgreens announced it was terminating its relationship with medical testing company Theranos effective immediately.
Walgreens' decision to dump Theranos came after the company voided a number of test results and a federal government agency rejected its plan of correction.
In a written statement, Walgreens Senior Vice President Brad Fluegel said, “We have carefully considered our relationship with Theranos and believe it is in our customers’ best interest to terminate our partnership.”
But Theranos says it will still do business in Arizona. Spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told KJZZ News they will continue to serve customers through independent retail locations,including at least four across the Valley.
“Quality and safety are our top priorities,” she wrote in an email. “And we are working closely with government officials to ensure that we not only comply with all federal regulations but exceed them.”
Theranos’ CEO Elizabeth Holmes viewed Arizona as a test market and last year she stood behind Governor Doug Ducey as he signed a bill allowing Arizonans to get blood tests without a doctor’s order.
Last month, a Valley man was named as the plaintiff in a class-action lawsuitclaiming Theranos misled consumers, an allegation the company says is ‘without merit.’
