Abbott Laboratories
Type	Public (NYSE: ABT)
Founded	1888
Headquarters	Abbott Park, North Chicago, Illinois, USA
Key people	Miles D. White, Chairman and CEO Richard A. Gonzalez, President & COO
Products	Human and Veterinary pharmaceutical products, diagnostic assays and Nutritional Products
Revenue	$22.476 billion USD (2006)
Net income	$1.716 billion USD (2006)
Employees	> 60,600
Website	www.abbott.com/

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is a diversified pharmaceuticals and health care company. It has over 65,000 employees and operates in 130 countries. The corporate headquarters are in Abbott Park, Illinois, a neighborhood of North Chicago, Illinois. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the Big Board, is a New York City-based stock exchange. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... North Chicago is a city located in Lake County, Illinois. ... Abbott Laboratories CEO ... For the tax agency in the United Kingdom of the same name, see HM Revenue and Customs. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Net income is equal to the income that a firm has after subtracting costs and expenses from the total revenue. ... Image File history File links Red_Arrow_Down. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the album by the Kaiser Chiefs see Employment (album) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the Big Board, is a New York City-based stock exchange. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmakon (φάρμακον) meaning drug, and lego (λέγω) to tell (about)) is the study of how substances interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. ... A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... North Chicago is a city located in Lake County, Illinois. ...

Abbott Laboratories was founded by Chicago physician Wallace Calvin Abbott in 1888. In 2003 , Abbott had nearly $20 billion in sales.

In 1985, the company developed the first HIV blood screening test. The company's drug portfolio includes Humira, a drug for rheumatoid arthritis, Norvir, a treatment for HIV, Depakote, an anticonvulsant drug, and Synthroid, a synthetic thyroid hormone. Abbott also has a broad range of diagnostics and immunoassay products as well as Ensure, a line of well known meal replacement shakes. Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ... Humira is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits TNFα. Together with infliximab and etanercept, it forms the drug class of the biologicals for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. ... Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. ... Norvir is a drug used to treat AIDS. It is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. ... Valproic acid or 2-Propylpentanoic acid is CH3CH2CH2CH(CH2CH2CH3)COOH . ... The anticonvulsants, sometimes also called antiepileptics, belong to a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in prevention of the occurrence of epileptic seizures. ... Synthroid is the brand name used by Abbott Laboratories for levothyroxine sodium (T4, a synthetic thyroid hormone) product. ... The thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are tyrosine-based hormones produced by the thyroid gland. ... An immunoassay is a biochemical test that measures the level of a substance in a biological liquid, typically serum or urine, using the reaction of an antibody or antibodies to its antigen. ... Ensure can mean:- A food and beverage brand owned by Abbott Laboratories. ...

Abbott’s in vitro diagnostics business is a world leader in immunoassays and blood screening. Abbott’s broad range of medical tests and diagnostic instrument systems are used worldwide by hospitals, laboratories, blood banks, and physician offices to diagnose and monitor diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, cancer, heart failure and metabolic disorders, as well as assess other important indicators of general health.

Abbott Point-of-Care manufactures diagnostic products for blood analysis to provide health care professionals critical diagnostics information accurately and immediately at the point of patient care. In addition to its offerings in the blood gas and chemistries segment, Abbott also provides point-of-care cardiac assays to the emergency room.

Organization

Abbott's core businesses in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries are organized into major divisions, which have recently been supplemented through several notable acquisitions. It has also divested itself of less profitable businesses through sales and spinoffs. Abbott's principal divisions include Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development (GPRD) and Abbott Diagnostics Division (ADD).

In 2001 , Abbott acquired Knoll, the phamaceutical division of BASF. This article is about the German chemical company. ...

In 2004 , Abbott spun off its hospital products division into a new 14,000 employee company named Hospira, and acquired TheraSense, a diabetes care company, which it merged with its MediSense division to become Abbott Diabetes Care. In 2006 , Abbott assisted Boston Scientific in its purchase of Guidant Corporation. As part of the agreement, Abbott purchased the vascular device division of Guidant. Hospira, Inc. ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ... The Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) (abbreviated BSC), is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a range of interventional medical specialties, including interventional cardiology, peripheral interventions, neuromodulation, neurovascular intervention, electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, endoscopy, oncology, urology and gynecology. ... Wikinews has news related to this article: Guidant announces more defibrillator problems Guidant Corporation NYSE: GDT designs and manufactures artificial pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, stents, and other cardiovascular medical products. ...

In January 2007, Abbott Laboratories agreed to sell its in vitro diagnostics and Point-of-Care diagnostics divisions to General Electric for more than $8 billion. These units are slated to be integrated into the GE Healthcare business unit. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Abbott and GE and is targeted to close in the first half of 2007. On July 11, 2007, Abbott announced that it had terminated its agreement with GE. This article is about the American company. ... GE Healthcare is a $14 billion (USD) unit of General Electric. ...

In June 2007 Abbott announces intention to sell UK manufacturing site to Aesica (a private equity owned API manufacturer).

Products

Some of the key products produced by Abbott Laboratories, circa 2006, include:

• Similac-LF (Infant milk powder Lactose free)
• Biaxin/Klacid (clarithromycin)
• Depacon (valproic acid)
• Depakote (valproate semisodium)
• Freestyle Freedom blood glucose monitor
• Freestyle Flash blood glucose monitor
• Gengraf (cyclosporin)
• Gopten/Mavik (trandolapril)
• Humira (adalimumab)
• Isoptin (verapamil)
• Hytrin (terazosin)
• Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir)
• Meridia/Reductil (sibutramine)
• Norvir (ritonavir)
• Omnicef (cefdinir)
• Synthroid (levothyroxine)
• Tarka (trandolapril/verapamil)
• Tricor (fenofibrate)
• Ultane (sevoflurane)
• cell-dyn 1400 analyzer (full blood count)
• Niaspan
• Azmacort

The neutrality and factual accuracy of this section are disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page.

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat pharyngitis, tonsillitis, acute maxillary sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia (especially atypical pneumonias associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae or TWAR), skin and skin structure infections, and, in HIV and AIDS patients to prevent, and to treat, disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). ... Valproic acid is a chemical compound that has found clinical use as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. ... Valproate semisodium (INN) or divalproex sodium (USAN) consists of a compound of sodium valproate and valproic acid in a 1:1 molar relationship in an enteric coated form. ... ... Mavik Logo Trandolapril is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure, it may also be used to treat other conditions. ... Adalimumab (Humira®) is the third TNF antagonist (after infliximab and etanercept) to be approved in the US. Like infliximab and etanercept, adalimumab binds to TNFα, preventing it from activating TNF receptors; adalimumab was constructed from a fully human monoclonal antibody, while infliximab is a mouse-human chimeric antibody and etanercept... Verapamil (brand names: Isoptin®, Verelan®, Calan®) is a medical drug that acts as an L-type calcium channel blocker. ... Terazosin (Hytrin) is an alpha blocker used for treatment of symptoms of prostate enlargement (BPH). ... Lopinavir (ABT-378) is an antiretroviral of the protease inhibitor class. ... Ritonavir is a drug from the protease inhibitor class used to treat AIDS. It is manufactured as Norvir® by Abbott Laboratories. ... Sibutramine (Meridia® in the USA, Reductil® in Europe), usually as sibutramide hydrochloride monohydrate, is an orally administered agent for the treatment of obesity. ... Ritonavir is a drug from the protease inhibitor class used to treat AIDS. It is manufactured as Norvir® by Abbott Laboratories. ... Cefdinir (marketed by Abbott Laboratories under the brand name Omnicef®) is a semi-synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic in the third generation of the cephalosporin class, proven effective for common bacterial infections of the ear, sinus, throat, and skin. ... Levothyroxine, also known as L-thyroxine, synthetic T4 or 3,5,3,5-tetraiodo-L-thyronine, is a synthetic form of thyroxine (thyroid hormone). ... Mavik Logo Trandolapril is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure, it may also be used to treat other conditions. ... Verapamil (brand names: Isoptin®, Verelan®, Calan®) is a medical drug that acts as an L-type calcium channel blocker. ... Fenofibrate is a drug of the fibrate class. ... Sevoflurane (2, 2, 2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl) ethyl ether), also called fluoromethyl, is a halogenated ether used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. ... A full blood count (FBC) or complete blood count (CBC) is a test requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patients blood. ... Image File history File links Circle-question-red. ... Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ...

Safety concerns

Since 1990's, there are many drugs from Abbott that years later are found to have dangerous or toxic side-effects. This results in class action lawsuits against Abbott. Abbott having lost some of lawsuits and must pay several hundred million $US^{[citation needed]}.

Some examples of these well-known unsafe and toxic drugs are:

Humira

The Mayo Clinic study revealed the risk for several types of cancer to be among a number of serious adverse Humira side effects. Researchers found that patients taking the drug face triple the risk for developing the following cancers:

• Breast
• Gastrointestinal
• Skin
• Lung tumors

Humira has also been shown to increase the potential risk for developing lymphoma , or cancers that affect the lymphatic system. http://www.adrugrecall.com/humira/side-effect.html

Meridia

August 19, 2005 The Food and Drug Administration has refused to ban the weight loss drug Meridia. The agency rejected a petition filed by Public Citizen, asking that the Abbott Labs drug be banned because of concerns that it caused heart attacks and strokes in some patients.

FDA Refuses to Ban Weight-Loss Drug Meridia http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/fda_meridia.html

Common Questions about Meridia http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/meridia/faq.html

US watchdog calls for ban on Abbot diet drug http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=34859-uswatchdog-calls http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/meridia/index.html

FDA Denial of Public Citizen’s Petition to Ban Meridia Is Misguided (HRG Publication #1748) http://www.citizen.org/publications/release.cfm?ID=7398

OxyContin

Drug Addiction Facts A plaintiffs group in Washington, D.C., has filed a $5.2 billion lawsuit against Purdue Pharma LP and Abbott Laboratories Inc. charging the drug companies with allegedly failing to warn patients that the painkiller OxyContin is dangerously addictive. http://www.noeman.org/drugs/drug_addiction_facts.html Abbott no longer markets Oxycontin.

Depakote

A study conducted over a period of seven years at five Boston area hospitals, involving more than 1,000 single births, has determined that 20.6% of infants whose mothers had taken an anticonvulsant during pregnancy had major birth defects. Babies born to mothers who had taken more than one antidepressant during their pregnancy were born with major birth defects in 28% of the cases. The study also found that the percentage of major birth defects in the control group was only 8.5%.

Depakote and Birth Defects http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/depakote.html

Depakote: A Brief History http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/00631/off-label-depakote-birth-defects.html

Pemoline

Note: Withdrawn from US market by manufacturer March '05 Because of its association with life threatening hepatic failure, CYLERT should not ordinarily be considered as first line drug therapy for ADHD (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE). http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/pemoline.htm

March 24, 2005 Public Citizen Petitions FDA to Take Pemoline Off the Market Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Drug Known to Cause Liver Failure http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1906

Prevacid

New Orleans physician John LaCorte, who has already won other whistleblower lawsuits, claims that TAP violated its agreement to offer Medicaid its "best price" for Prevacid by charging the agency up to 20 times more for the drug than it charged some of its other customers. LaCorte sued TAP on behalf of the federal government and is seeking triple damages, plus a $10,000 fine for each violation. He alleges fraudulent behavior that, he says, dates back more than a decade.

Prevacid Lawsuit Means Pain at Abbott Unit --2004 http://www.thestreet.com/stocks/melissadavid/10184941.html

2003 ULGY USA Medicare Legislation and Medical Malpractice Bill

In 2003, The unorthodox roll call on one of the most expensive bills ever placed before the House of Representatives began in the middle of the night, long after most people in Washington had switched off C-SPAN and gone to sleep. Congressmen are outnumbered two to one by lobbyists for an industry that spends roughly a $100 million a year in campaign contributions and lobbying expenses to protect its profits.

These two bills makes the cost of prescription drugs in the United States are the highest in the world. And also they makes it to be illegal to import cheaper drugs from Canada or Mexico and other countries.

These two bills also make a huge jump in Net Sales of Abbott Laboratories to 19.6 billion$ in 2004 and 22.3 billions$ in 2005. [Abbott 2006 Annual Report: http://www.abbott.com/global/url/content/en_US/70.10.20:20/general_content/General_Content_00125.htm]

sources: "Under The Influence" 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft Reports On Drug Lobbyists' Role

 in Passing Bill That Keeps Drug Prices High http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/29/60minutes/main2625305.shtml 

video: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2635796n

 http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/documents/NevFactSht.pdf 

Abbott Laboratories INCs. FRAUD ACTION

In, 2006, there is an unpopular example of Abbott Laboratories fraud action which is now under the USA FLORIDA State's Jury trial processing. This fruad action is about the "USA STATE of FLORIDA Medicare and Medicaid programs" where Abbott reported inflated pharmaceutical prices - often 1000% higher than Abbott's actual prices.

source : http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/Attachments/060518-01.ABBOTT_Complaint.pdf

Access to Kaletra

In 2006, protesters from many organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, the Student Global AIDS Campaign, and Act Up, have held protests at Abbott's offices and laboratories across the US (including in Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida), demanding that Abbott actively take part in registering Kaletra in developing countries, to create "affordable" prices in middle-income countries, to establish a pediatric version of the drug (in addition to the liquid that is currently available), and to create open licenses to allow for generic drugs to be made before expiration of the patents. To their credit, Abbott executives are working with many countries to register the new version of Kaletra. The activists still expressed concern about the year and a half deadline for fully registering the newer version of the drug. In addition, the activists stated that they desired more holistic approaches from Abbott, and response to demands for expanded programs in one country. Most recently, stockholders have expressed some unease about the protests, pointing to anxiety in activists continuing to protest even after Abbott voiced their plans for registration of Kaletra in South Africa. Médecins Sans Frontières (abbreviated MSF; known as Doctors Without Borders in the United States, as Médicos Sin Fronteras in the Spanish language and as Médicos Sem Fronteiras in Portuguese language) is a nonprofit private organisation created in 1971 by a small group of French doctors led... The Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) is an advocacy group with more than 85 chapters at high schools, colleges, and universities across the United States committed to bringing an end to HIV and AIDS in the U.S. and around the world. ... ACT UP, or the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals . ... The middle class (or middle classes) comprises a social group once defined by exception as an intermediate social class between the nobility and the peasantry. ... Clinical Examination Pediatrics (also spelled paediatrics) is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents (from newborn to age 16-21, depending on the country). ... A generic drug (pl. ... Holism (from holos, a Greek word meaning all, entire, total) is the idea that all the properties of a given system (biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc. ... A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or company (including a corporation) that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a joint stock company. ...

In March 2007, Abbott announced it will not be introducing any new medicines into Thailand, because Thailand had decided to disregard international intellectual property rights and manufacture it's own generic version of Kaletra. Thailand, a country with a per capita income of about $2742, had recently issued WTO-compliant compulsory licenses to allow government use of this drug and efavirenz for treatment of the estimated 600,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in that country.^{[citation needed]}

Pricing of Norvir

Abbott caused controversy in 2003 over a sharp rise in price of Norvir treatment from $1.71 per day to $8.57 per day, spurring claims of price gouging by consumer groups and some members of Congress. Critics point out that Abbott received $3,500,000 in grants from the United States taxpayers to develop Norvir, although the company has responded by pointing out the nearly $200 million development cost for the drug. Price gouging is a term of variable, but nearly always pejorative, meaning, referring to a sellers asking a price that is much higher than what is seen as fair under the circumstances. ...

Consumer rights group Essential Inventions petitioned the National Institutes of Health to override Abbott's patent on Norvir, but the agency refused to do so on August 4, 2004, citing potential widespread adverse effects on the pharmaceutical market. National Institutes of Health Building 50 at NIH Clinical Center - Building 10 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical research. ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon is drug, and logos is science) is the study of how chemical substances interfere with living systems. ...

Timeline

• 1888 Dr. Wallace C. Abbott, a practicing physician, begins manufacturing dosimetric granules. Dr. Abbott is one of the founders of modern pharmacy.
• 1894 Dr. Abbott acquires and becomes editor of The Alkaloidal Clinic.
• 1900 The company is officially incorporated as the Abbott Alkaloidal Company.
• 1906 To reach more physicians, Dr. Abbott establishes the company’s sales force.
• 1910 Abbott establishes its first European agency in London and branches in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and India.
• 1916 Abbott acquires its first synthetic medicine, an antiseptic agent called Chlorazene, which is used extensively on the battlefields of World War I to clean wounds.
• 1920 Dr. Abbott breaks ground for a new facility in North Chicago, Illinois. The site serves as the company’s world headquarters for more than 40 years.
• 1923 Abbott develops the synthetic drug Butyn, a local anesthetic, based on butyl alcohol. It marks Abbott’s official entrance into the anesthesia market, and butyl alcohol becomes a keystone of Abbott's scientific research in sleep-inducing agents.
• 1929 Abbott stock is listed on the Chicago Stock Exchange with an offering of 20,000 shares at $32 each.
• 1930 Nembutal, a sedative - hypnotic agent and one of Abbott's best-known and longest-lived products, is introduced.
• 1931 Combining an existing sales office and the Canadian operations of the recently acquired Swan Meyer, Co., Abbott establishes its first international affiliate in Montreal, Canada.
• 1936 Abbott introduces Pentothal (thiopental sodium), which will be the most widely used induction anesthetic in the world for more than 50 years. Abbott enters the I.V. business by supplying hospitals with bulk intravenous solutions.
• 1938 Abbott celebrates its 50th anniversary with the dedication of its North Chicago Research Center.
• 1939 Health care benefits are extended to employees' dependents.
• 1941 Discovered in Great Britain in 1928, penicillin had tremendous clinical value, but had yet to be produced on a large scale. In 1941, Britain seeks help in starting large-scale production and Abbott accepts the challenge. Within three months Abbott begins commercial production of penicillin, one of the five pioneers in the United States.
• 1942 Abbott introduces Halazone, a water purification tablet shipped by the millions to every fighting front in World War II.
• 1943 Abbott opens its first facility in Puerto Rico, later to become one of its largest manufacturing operations.
• 1945 Abbott introduces Tridione for treatment of epilepsy, Surbex, a high-potency vitamin, and Venopac, the first fully disposable intravenous administration set.
• 1946 Abbott is the first pharmaceutical company to have a special laboratory for radioactive pharmaceuticals, or "radiopharmaceuticals," a move that leads to the creation of what will become the world’s leading immunodiagnostics business.
• 1947 Abbott introduces Aminosol, a new protein solution for intravenous feeding of surgical patients. Abbott develops the Abbott Sanitary Counting Tray.
• 1949 Abbott introduces 74 new products in a single year, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and improved variations of existing products.
• 1950 Raymond E. Horn steps down as president because of illness. His successor is Dr. Ernest Volwiler, the first president since Dr. Burdick with a scientific background. Abbott introduces Sucaryl, its first truly consumer product, opens a registered entity in France, and enters into business in Spain.
• 1951 Abbott introduces Selsun Suspension shampoo for dandruff control. The company establishes an employee contributory stock purchase plan.
• 1952 Abbott introduces Erythrocin, a new antibiotic with good activity against gram-positive bacteria.
• 1953 Abbott's radiopharmaceutical business introduces Radiocaps, capsules containing an accurately controlled, invisible and un-weighable film of radioiodine that simplifies the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders.
• 1959 Abbott introduces a new logo, which features a stylized “a” symbol that is still in use today.
• 1962 Abbott enters a joint venture with Dainippon Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., of Japan to manufacture radiopharmaceuticals. This venture will become Dainabot, and eventually evolve into Abbott Japan, the company’s largest operation outside the United States.
• 1963 The Triosorb diagnostic test kit, even simpler than the Radiocaps introduced ten years earlier, no longer requires a patient to swallow a radioactive substance; rather, a blood sample is inoculated with a radioactive form of thyroid hormone.
• 1964 Abbott acquires M&R Dietetic Laboratories of Columbus, Ohio, best known as makers of Similac infant formula, one of the first milk-based infant formulas. M&R eventually becomes Abbott’s Ross Products Division.
• 1965 Abbott’s growth warrants expansion at its headquarters location, and the company begins to move some operations to Abbott Park, a 420-acre site southwest of its North Chicago operations.
• 1972 Abbott introduces Tranxene, a tranquilizer, Ausria, a radioimmunoassay test to detect serum hepatitis, and the ABA-100 blood chemistry analyzer.
• 1973 Abbott forms a diagnostics division to bring together all diagnostic products and services. The company also introduces Ensure, the first adult medical nutritional.
• 1977 TAP Pharmaceuticals, now known as TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., is formed as a joint venture between Abbott and Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. of Japan.
• 1981 Abbott introduces the TDx therapeutic drug monitoring system.
• 1983 Depakote (divalproex sodium) is approved in the United States.
• 1985 Abbott wins U.S. approval to market the world’s first diagnostic test for AIDS. Abbott also launches ADD-Vantage, an intravenous drug delivery system, and TAP receives its first product approval for Lupron (leuprolide acetate).
• 1987 Hytrin (terazosin hydrochloride) receives U.S. FDA approval.
• 1988 Abbott celebrates its centennial. The IMx diagnostic instrument, used in medium-sized laboratories, is introduced and will become the world’s leading immunoassay system and one of the best-selling new products in Abbott’s history.
• 1990 Clarithromycin launched. Clarithromycin is known as Biaxin in the United States and Klacid and Klaricid in countries around the world.
• 1991 Several major products are introduced worldwide, including Survanta (beractant) and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to screen and monitor therapy for prostate cancer. Abbott enters the hematology testing market with the acquisition of Sequoia-Turner Corp.
• 1993 Abbott launches AxSYM, a new labor-saving diagnostic system.
• 1994 Abbott introduces sevoflurane, and completes an agreement to cross-license LCR and PCR, two gene amplification technologies.
• 1995 TAP receives approval for PREVACID (lansoprazole). In diagnostics, ABBOTT PRISM, the first, fully automated high-volume blood analyzer is introduced. Today, the ABBOTT PRISM is used to screen the majority of the world’s donated blood supply.
• 1996 Abbott launches Norvir (ritonovir). The company enters the glucose testing market with the acquisition of MediSense, Inc.
• 1997 After extensive research, Abbott’s Ross Products Division launches an improved version of Similac called Similac Advance.
• 1998 Abbott launches Glucerna shakes and snack bars, specially formulated nutritional products for people with diabetes. The U.S. FDA approves several major products including TriCor (fenofibrate) and Zemplar (paricalcitol).
• 1999 Abbott launches ARCHITECT, a next-generation diagnostic system. Abbott acquires Perclose, Inc., the leading arterial closure device manufacturer, which provides the foundation for building its vascular business. Later that year, the FDA approves The Closer, a next generation vascular closure device.
• 2000 Abbott receives approval for several new drugs and line extensions, including Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir), Biaxin XL (clarithromycin extended-release tablets), and Depakote ER (divalproex extended-release tablets). Abbott introduces an innovative award-winning, 32-ounce, reclosable plastic bottle for Similac with Iron.
• 2001 Abbott acquires the pharmaceutical business of BASF AG, including the global operations of Knoll Pharmaceuticals. In addition, Abbott acquires Vysis, Inc., and receives clearance to market the Vysis UroVysion test to monitor for recurrent bladder cancer.
• 2002 Abbott receives FDA approval for Humira (adalimumab). The company launches Similac Advance, Isomil Advance and NeoSure Advance infant formulas in the United States. Abbott acquires the cardiovascular stent business of Biocompatibles International plc., as it works to build its vascular business.
• 2003 Abbott launches HUMIRA in Europe. The company launches three new immunodiagnostics systems for use on the ARCHITECT platform. Abbott also continues to build its medical products business through several strategic acquisitions: JOMED's coronary and peripheral intervention business lines and Integrated Vascular Systems Inc.; Spinal Concepts Inc., an innovator of spinal implant devices; and ZonePerfect Nutritional Co., which signals Abbott's entrance into the fast-growing healthy living category of the nutrition market.
• 2004 Abbott acquires TheraSense Inc., a leading blood glucose monitoring business, to complement its fast-growing diabetes care business. The company also enters the point of care diagnostics market with the acquisition of i-STAT Corp.; adds to its healthy living nutrition offerings with the acquisition of EAS Inc., and firmly establishes its presence in the spinal device market with the acquisition of Spine Next S.A. Abbott also spins off its hospital products business as Hospira, an independent, publicly traded company. Hospira is one of the largest global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery companies serving the hospital.
• 2005 Abbott introduces several medical devices including the Xact carotid stent with the Emboshield capture device; the FreeStyle Connect blood glucose monitor; and, in the United States, launches the ABBOTT PRISM blood screening system and the CELL-DYN Sapphire hematology system. The company also receives FDA approval for two new uses for HUMIRA. Abbott also makes changes to its Kaletra product.
• 2006 Abbott acquires Guidant's vascular business, which, combined with Abbott's ongoing business, creates one of the leading global vascular device companies. Intermountain Health Care switches its supported brand of glucometer for its roughly 2,000,000 patients to the new Freestyle Freedom and Freestyle Flash.
• 2006 Abbott acquires Kos Pharmaceuticals for a reported $3.6 billion
• 2007 In January, Abbott agrees to divest its in vitro diagnostics and point-of-care diagnostics business units to the GE Healthcare unit of General Electric. July 11, the deal is cancelled.
• 2007 Abbott announces intention to sell UK manufacturing site to Aesica (a private equity owned API manufacturer).

Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wikinews has news related to this article: Guidant announces more defibrillator problems Guidant Corporation NYSE: GDT designs and manufactures artificial pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, stents, and other cardiovascular medical products. ... Intermountain Health Care (IHC) is a nonprofit healthcare system and is the largest health care provider in the Intermountain West. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... GE Healthcare is a $14 billion (USD) unit of General Electric. ... This article is about the American company. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Awards

This article or section may require restructuring to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since January 2007 .

Abbott is one of the 100 Best (US) Companies for Working Mothers in 2004 according to Working Mothers magazine. Image File history File links Information. ...

Abbott has been repeatedly honored by FORTUNE magazine as one of the best companies in the country for its diversity practices and initiatives, including six straight years since the publication began its “50 Best Companies For Asians, Blacks and Hispanics” rankings.

Abbott was selected as one of “10 Best Companies for Women” by Health magazine in 2002. Abbott is both the only health care company on the list and the only company headquartered in Illinois. Those on the list are recognized for excelling in helping women balance their work and personal lives.

Abbott ranked #13 in Black Collegian magazine’s Top 50 Diversity Employers Survey in 2002 - and first among all pharmaceutical companies.

Abbott was named to Next Step’s Diversity 100: America’s Most Diverse Corporations by Next Step magazine in 2001.

Abbott was listed as one of the "25 Best Companies to Work for in Chicago" by Chicago Magazine. Chicago is a monthly magazine published by the Tribune Company. ...

Abbott received Five-star ratings in all internship program categories (selectivity, compensation, and quality of life) by Princeton Review’s America’s Top Internships.

Abbott named among "Science magazine's 2005 Top Employers." Science Magazine

Number 11 of the Top 50 Pharma Companies Pharmaceutical Executive (2004) For more information about this award, visit Pharm Exec 50 Special Report

Number 48 among the Top 500 American Companies Forbes magazine (2003)

Named No. 42 on the Business Week 50 as one of America's Best Companies BusinessWeek (2003)

Named one of America's Most Admired Companies every year since 1984 Fortune magazine

Named to the Barron's 500 Barron's, The Dow Jones Business and Financial Weekly (2002)

Number 157 among the Forbes Platinum 400 Forbes magazine (2002)

Number 21 among America's Best Wealth Creators Fortune magazine (2002)

Named to the Salomon Smith Barney 2001-2002 TEN+List Salomon Smith Barney (2002)

Number 93 among the 500 Largest U.S.-Based Corporations Number 285 among the Global 500 Fortune magazine (2005)

Abbott has a tradition of addressing global citizenship issues. In 2005, Abbott and the Abbott Fund contributed more than $300 million in cash and product donations.^{[citation needed]} Global citizenship is a persons obligation to respect and protect their environment and people around them while thinking on a global scale. ...

External links

• Abbott/GE deal for core lab diagnostics business
• Abbott terminates deal with GE
• Abbott Hellas
• Abbott Labs company profile and news archive
• NIH Won't Intervene in AIDS Drug Pricing Issue, The Washington Post, August 4, 2004