Abbott Launches a CE Marked KIF6 Test in Europe

A New Innovative Marker for Coronary Heart Disease

WIESBADEN, Germany, February 22, 2011 - Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today the availability of the CE-marked KIF6
diagnostic test for use on the m2000 instrument system. The KIF6 genotyping
assay, detects a genetic marker that may be used in conjunction with clinical
evaluation and patient assessment for the identification of individuals at
risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and in treatment of patients with
elevated cholesterol, for whom statin treatment is being considered.

Previous research has shown that carriers of the KIF6 risk variant (60
percent of the population) have had significantly fewer fatal or nonfatal
coronary events from statin therapy. According to Herbert Schuster, M.D.
Ph.D., Geneticist and Preventive Cardiologist, Berlin, Germany, "The new
pharmacogenetic KIF6 biomarker is very useful for my daily practice in
cardiovascular risk factor management, particularly for patients with
intermediate cardiovascular risk. I use this marker to reclassify patients to
further support individualized indication of statin therapy. In addition,
carriers of the variant will significantly benefit from statin therapy and
are more likely to benefit from continuous therapy."

On September 22, 2010, Celera Corporation and Abbott announced their
non-exclusive distribution agreement to market a CE-marked KIF6 diagnostic
test for use on Abbott's m2000 instrument system. Under the 4-year agreement,
Celera will manufacture the KIF6 test kit which Abbott Molecular will
distribute in the European Union, other geographic areas that recognize the
CE mark, and elsewhere worldwide, excluding the United States.

Please visit
www.abbottmolecular.com/products/genetics/realtime-pcr/kif6-genotyping-assay.html for more information on the test.

About Abbott Molecular

Abbott Molecular, abbottmolecular.com, is a leader in molecular
diagnostics - the analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins at the molecular level.
Abbott Molecular's instruments and reagents also detect subtle but key
changes in patients' genes and chromosomes. These tests have the potential
for earlier detection or diagnosis, can influence the selection of
appropriate therapies, and may improve monitoring of disease progression.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the
discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and
medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The
company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than
130 countries.

Abbott information is available on the company's Web site at
www.abbott.com.

Media, Don Braakman, +1-847-937-0080, or German Media, Julia Heinz, +49-(0)-6122-58-3578, both of Abbott