The Madison biotechnology company Exact Sciences recently laid off about 4 percent of its workforce, including 200 positions in Wisconsin.
The cuts include about 80 jobs at its Madison headquarters and about 120 remote positions elsewhere in the state. Job cuts will focus on human resources, information technology and legal services.
Company spokesperson Steph Spanos said the layoffs are focused on support roles and are part of a strategic reorganization effort.
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Exact Sciences employs 7,200 people globally. In 2022, about half the company’s workforce was in Madison, according to a notice from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
The company is known for its colorectal cancer screening test called Cologuard, which is a stool DNA test people can take at home and send to the lab for results. That product launched in 2014. Recently, it’s grown to offer new tests, including “Cologuard Plus,” Spanos said.
“To ensure continued progress, we are taking strategic steps to evolve how we operate,” she said.
“As part of this evolution, we are reorganizing certain support functions and leveraging our global resources to better meet growing, worldwide demand,” Spanos said. “While these changes will affect some support roles, we expect to create more jobs than we eliminate — particularly in areas that drive innovation, expand access, and support high-quality lab and operational performance.”
In a recent earnings call, executives reported record revenue for the first half of 2025. It was $811 million, up from $699 million in 2024.
“We delivered our 20 millionth Cologuard result, doubling from 10 million in just three years. We are encouraged by indicators of sustainable growth coming from our commercial organization,” said CEO Kevin Conroy in the call. “The colon cancer screening landscape is shifting towards a Cologuard first, colonoscopy when needed approach. “
Company executives attributed some of the revenue success to the Cologuard Plus launch.
Spanos said the company remains committed to its Wisconsin employees, and Madison headquarters.
“Impacted team members are being supported with care and respect, including severance, outplacement services and opportunities to apply for nearly 250 open roles across the company,” she said.
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