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  • February 2019 (Revised February 2020)
  • Case
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Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (A)

By: Nien-hê Hsieh, Christina R. Wing, Emilie Fournier and Anna Resman
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:35
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Abstract

This case covers the rise and fall of Theranos, the company founded by Elizabeth Holmes in 2004 to revolutionize the blood testing industry by creating a device that could provide from a small finger prick the same results and accuracy as intravenous blood draws. As founder and CEO, Holmes was hailed as the most successful female tech entrepreneur ever. In October 2015, however, a Wall Street Journal article exposed internal struggles and questioned the startup’s trajectory. Subsequent investigations revealed that Theranos, despite commercial operations in 40 retail locations, lacked a functioning product. Set in 2017, the (A) Case opens with Theranos’ motion to dismiss the class action lawsuit filed by two investors who claimed that Theranos and its officers had violated California’s securities law and engaged in fraud.

Keywords

Health Testing and Trials; Corporate Accountability; Organizational Culture; Misleading and Fraudulent Advertising; Crime and Corruption; Ethics; Entrepreneurship; Lawsuits and Litigation

Citation

Hsieh, Nien-hê, Christina R. Wing, Emilie Fournier, and Anna Resman. "Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (A)." Harvard Business School Case 619-039, February 2019. (Revised February 2020.)
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About The Authors

Nien-he Hsieh

General Management
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Christina R. Wing

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • February 2020
    • Faculty Research

    Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (B)

    By: Nien-he Hsieh, Christina R. Wing and John Masko
    • February 2020
    • Faculty Research

    Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (A) and (B)

    By: Nien-he Hsieh and Christina R. Wing
    • February 2019 (Revised February 2020)
    • Faculty Research

    Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (A)

    By: Nien-hê Hsieh, Christina R. Wing, Emilie Fournier and Anna Resman
Related Work
  • Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (B) By: Nien-he Hsieh, Christina R. Wing and John Masko
  • Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (A) and (B) By: Nien-he Hsieh and Christina R. Wing
  • Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (A) By: Nien-hê Hsieh, Christina R. Wing, Emilie Fournier and Anna Resman
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