Founded in 1888 by Dr. Wallace Calvin Abbott, a Chicago physician, Abbott Laboratories is a broad-based health care company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets products and services that span the continuum of care – from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and cure. Abbott’s principal businesses are global pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, and medical products, including diagnostics and cardiovascular devices.
Headquartered in north suburban Chicago, Abbott serves customers in more than 130 countries, with a staff of 70,000-plus at more than 150 manufacturing, distribution, research and development, and other locations around the world.

Abbott Park, Illinois, April 18, 2007 — Abbott today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007.

Abbott's diluted earnings per share, excluding specified items, were $0.55, including results from Discontinued Operations, ahead of Abbott’s previously announced guidance range of $0.51 to $0.53, which included Discontinued Operations. Higher TAP joint venture income, resulting from a favorable outcome in a patent dispute, impacted earnings per share by $0.02. Abbott is raising its full-year ongoing earnings-per-share guidance. Diluted earnings per share under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) were $0.45. 
Worldwide sales increased 15.5 percent to $5.3 billion, including the impact of acquisitions and a favorable 2.5 percent effect of exchange rates. 
Worldwide pharmaceutical sales increased 16.6 percent, including U.S. sales growth of 16.8 percent, driven by strong growth in HUMIRA, as well as the first full quarter of sales from the Kos Pharmaceuticals acquisition. International pharmaceutical sales increased 16.4 percent, including the impact of exchange, led by double-digit growth of Kaletra® and more than 60 percent growth of HUMIRA. Abbott continues to expect 2007 global sales of HUMIRA to exceed $2.7 billion. 
Medical Products sales increased 13.9 percent, including $420 million from Abbott Vascular and double-digit growth in International Nutritionals and Abbott Molecular. In March, Abbott presented U.S. clinical trial data on its XIENCE™ V drug-eluting stent system and remains on track to file for U.S. regulatory approval in the second quarter of this year. 
"Our businesses continue to perform well and our outlook remains strong," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "Our late-stage pipeline is generating significant opportunities across our diverse portfolio, giving us great confidence in our future."
 

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