Abbott Reports Strong Third Quarter Results; Confirms Double-Digit Ongoing Earnings Outlook for 2010

By Abbott, PRNE
Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Third Quarter Ongoing EPS Growth of 14.1 Percent -

ABBOTT PARK, Illinois, October 20, 2010 - Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced financial results for the third
quarter ended Sept. 30, 2010.

    - Diluted earnings per share, excluding specified items, were
      US$1.05, reflecting 14.1 percent growth, at the high end of Abbott's
      previously issued guidance range of US$1.03 to US$1.05. Diluted
      earnings per share under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
      (GAAP) were US$0.57, primarily reflecting costs associated with
      recently announced restructuring actions for the integration of the
      Solvay Pharmaceuticals acquisition.
    - Worldwide sales increased 11.8 percent to US$8.7 billion,
      including an unfavorable 1.0 percent effect of foreign exchange rates.
      Growth in the quarter was driven by worldwide pharmaceutical sales,
      which increased 21.7 percent, including the contribution from the
      Solvay acquisition, as well as worldwide vascular products sales, which
      increased 18.6 percent.
    - Third quarter results included strong investment spending,
      particularly in R&D, as well as an improvement in adjusted gross margin
      ratio to 61.6 percent.
    - Abbott is confirming its 2010 ongoing earnings-per-share guidance
      and raising the lower end of its previous guidance range. As a result,
      Abbott's ongoing earnings-per-share guidance for full-year 2010 is now
      US$4.16 to US$4.18, excluding specified items.

"Abbott delivered strong performance in the quarter as we confirmed our
double-digit growth outlook for the full year," said Miles D. White, chairman
and chief executive officer, Abbott. "During the quarter, we announced an
agreement to expand our pharmaceutical pipeline with an attractive late-stage
asset for the treatment of chronic kidney disease, which follows the addition
of several novel compounds earlier this year. In addition, we completed the
acquisition of Piramal's Healthcare Solutions business and finalized the
integration planning for the Solvay Pharmaceuticals acquisition. The
strategic actions we've taken across our global businesses position us well
in high-growth emerging markets as well as promising new therapeutic areas."

The following is a summary of third-quarter 2010 sales.

    (All amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified)

    Quarter Ended 9/30/10

    (dollars in millions)
                                               % Change vs. 3Q09
                                               -----------------
                                                     Foreign
                          Sales     Reported         Exchange    Operational
                          -----     --------         --------    -----------

    Total Sales            $8,675      11.8            (1.0)         12.8

        Total
         International
         Sales             $4,813      16.2            (2.0)         18.2

        Total U.S. Sales   $3,862       6.6              --           6.6

    Worldwide
     Pharmaceutical
     Sales                 $4,937      21.7  (a)       (1.6)         23.3

        International
         Pharmaceuticals   $2,674      29.7  (a)       (3.2)         32.9

        U.S.
         Pharmaceuticals   $2,263      13.5  (a)         --          13.5

    Worldwide
     Nutritional Sales     $1,365      (1.5) (b)        0.8          (2.3)

        International
         Nutritionals        $739       1.9             1.5           0.4

        U.S. Nutritionals    $626      (5.3) (b)         --          (5.3)

    Worldwide
     Diagnostics Sales       $916       0.8            (1.4)          2.2

        International
         Diagnostics         $664      (1.7)           (1.9)          0.2

        U.S. Diagnostics     $252       8.2              --           8.2

    Worldwide Vascular
     Sales                   $790      18.6            (0.9)         19.5

         International
          Vascular           $378      39.7            (2.3)         42.0

         U.S. Vascular       $412       4.2              --           4.2

    Other Sales              $667     (10.6)           (1.0)         (9.6)

    Note:  See "Consolidated Statement of Earnings" for more information.

    (a) Includes impact from the acquisition of Solvay Pharmaceuticals,
        which closed on Feb. 15, 2010.
    (b) Includes impact from a nutritional product recall announced in
        September 2010.

The following is a summary of nine months ended September 2010 sales.

    Nine Months Ended 9/30/10

    (dollars in millions)                       % Change vs. 9M09
                                                -----------------
                                                       Foreign
                                   Sales   Reported    Exchange   Operational
                                   -----   --------    --------   -----------

    Total Sales                   $25,199      14.7         1.8        12.9

        Total International Sales $14,293      21.2         3.4        17.8

        Total U.S. Sales          $10,906       7.1          --         7.1

    Worldwide Pharmaceutical
     Sales                        $13,955      19.9 (a)     1.8        18.1

        International
         Pharmaceuticals           $7,866      27.6 (a)     3.3        24.3

        U.S. Pharmaceuticals       $6,089      11.2 (a)      --        11.2

    Worldwide Nutritional
     Sales                         $4,099       6.4 (b)     2.0         4.4

        International
         Nutritionals              $2,152      12.4         4.1         8.3

        U.S. Nutritionals          $1,947       0.6 (b)      --         0.6

    Worldwide Diagnostics
     Sales                         $2,779       6.8         2.4         4.4

        International Diagnostics  $2,045       6.9         3.3         3.6

        U.S. Diagnostics             $734       6.3          --         6.3

    Worldwide Vascular Sales       $2,372      20.5         1.5        19.0

         International Vascular    $1,110      41.6         3.8        37.8

         U.S. Vascular             $1,262       6.5          --         6.5

    Other Sales                    $1,994       4.1         1.1         3.0

    Note:  See "Consolidated Statement of Earnings" for more information.

    (a) Includes impact from the acquisition of Solvay Pharmaceuticals,
        which closed on Feb. 15, 2010.
    (b) Includes impact from a nutritional product recall announced in
        September 2010.

The following summarizes global sales for selected products and related
foreign exchange impacts compared to the prior year.

    Quarter Ended 9/30/10

    (dollars in millions)

                                                     Global Sales
                                                   % Change vs. 3Q09
                                                   -----------------
                        Global                    Foreign
                        Sales    Reported         Exchange     Operational
                        -----    --------         --------     -----------
    Pharmaceutical
     Products

      HUMIRA           $1,679      12.6              (3.5)        16.1

      TRILIPIX/
       TriCor            $404      22.1                --         22.1

      Kaletra            $328      (7.2)             (2.4)        (4.8)

      Niaspan            $225       4.7                --          4.7

      Lupron             $189      (3.3)             (0.4)        (2.9)

      Synthroid          $143       6.9               1.0          5.9

    Nutritional
     Products

      Pediatric
       Nutritionals      $679      (9.3) (a)          1.3        (10.6)

      Adult
       Nutritionals      $681       7.8               0.2          7.6

    Medical
     Products

      Core
       Laboratory
       Diagnostics       $753      (1.6)             (1.4)        (0.2)

      Coronary
       Stents            $505      29.9               0.1         29.8

      Diabetes Care      $318       0.1              (2.4)         2.5

      Medical Optics     $254      (3.4)              0.4         (3.8)

      Molecular
       Diagnostics        $95      16.0              (2.8)        18.8

     (a) Includes impact from a nutritional product recall announced in
         September 2010.

The following is a summary of Abbott's third-quarter 2010 sales for
selected products.

    Quarter Ended 9/30/10

    (dollars in millions)
                                      U.S.
                                      ----
                                            % Change
                               Sales        vs. 3Q09
                               -----        --------
    Pharmaceutical
     Products

      HUMIRA                    $757          8.1

      TRILIPIX/TriCor           $341          3.2

      Kaletra                    $87        (23.6)

      Niaspan                   $225          4.7

      Lupron                    $124         (3.8)

      Synthroid                 $118          7.2

    Nutritional Products

      Pediatric Nutritionals    $261        (19.1)  (a)

      Adult Nutritionals        $359          8.2

    Medical Products

      Core Laboratory
       Diagnostics              $152          2.9

      Coronary Stents           $259          6.0

      Diabetes Care             $134          7.7

      Medical Optics            $104          8.3

      Molecular Diagnostics      $47         23.2

    (dollars in millions)                  

                                            International
                                            -------------

                                                       % Change vs. 3Q09
                                                       -----------------
                                                   Foreign
                             Sales  Reported      Exchange      Operational
                             -----  --------      --------      -----------
    Pharmaceutical
     Products

      HUMIRA                   $922      16.6       (6.6)           23.2

      TRILIPIX/TriCor           $63       n/m        n/m             n/m

      Kaletra                  $241       0.7       (3.6)            4.3

      Niaspan                    --        --         --              --

      Lupron                    $65      (2.4)      (1.2)           (1.2)

      Synthroid                 $25       5.6        5.7            (0.1)

    Nutritional Products

      Pediatric Nutritionals   $418      (1.9)       2.2            (4.1)

      Adult Nutritionals       $322       7.3        0.4             6.9

    Medical Products

      Core Laboratory
       Diagnostics             $601      (2.7)      (1.7)           (1.0)

      Coronary Stents          $246      70.5        0.2            70.3

      Diabetes Care            $184      (4.7)      (4.0)           (0.7)

      Medical Optics           $150     (10.2)       0.7           (10.9)

      Molecular Diagnostics     $48       9.7       (5.2)           14.9

    n/m = Not meaningful

    (a) Includes impact from a nutritional product recall announced in
        September 2010.

The following summarizes global sales for selected products and related
foreign exchange impacts compared to the prior year.

    Nine Months Ended 9/30/10

    (dollars in millions)

                                                         Global Sales
                                                       % Change vs. 9M09
                                                       -----------------
                              Global                  Foreign
                              Sales  Reported         Exchange   Operational
                              -----  --------         --------   -----------
    Pharmaceutical Products

      HUMIRA                 $4,670      22.1            1.5        20.6

      TRILIPIX/TriCor        $1,083      17.9             --        17.9

      Kaletra                  $914      (7.5)           1.1        (8.6)

      Niaspan                  $640       6.6             --         6.6

      Lupron                   $548      (6.2)           2.0        (8.2)

      Synthroid                $395      11.6            2.5         9.1

    Nutritional Products

      Pediatric Nutritionals $2,142       3.9  (a)       2.1         1.8

      Adult Nutritionals     $1,925      10.3            2.0         8.3

    Medical Products

      Core Laboratory
       Diagnostics           $2,308       4.6            2.7         1.9

      Coronary Stents        $1,493      25.7            2.0        23.7

      Diabetes Care            $938       3.1            1.8         1.3

      Medical Optics           $784      36.8            0.9        35.9

      Molecular Diagnostics    $271      22.4            0.9        21.5

    (a) Includes impact from a nutritional product recall announced in
        September 2010.

The following is a summary of Abbott's nine months ended September 2010
sales for selected products.

    Nine Months Ended 9/30/10

    (dollars in millions)
                                     U.S.
                                     ----
                                         % Change
                               Sales      vs. 9M09
                               -----      --------
    Pharmaceutical Products

      HUMIRA                  $1,996         14.4

      TRILIPIX/TriCor           $937          2.0

      Kaletra                   $252        (18.6)

      Niaspan                   $640          6.6

      Lupron                    $353        (11.5)

      Synthroid                 $320          9.3

    Nutritional Products

      Pediatric Nutritionals    $905         (4.5)  (a)

      Adult Nutritionals      $1,011          6.9

    Medical Products

      Core Laboratory
       Diagnostics              $444         (0.5)

      Coronary Stents           $799          4.0

      Diabetes Care             $384          3.3

      Medical Optics            $304         26.2

      Molecular Diagnostics     $134         24.4

    (dollars in millions)                   International
                                            -------------
                                                       % Change vs. 9M09
                                                        -----------------
                                                    Foreign
                             Sales    Reported      Exchange      Operational
                             -----    --------      --------      -----------
    Pharmaceutical Products

      HUMIRA                 $2,674      28.5           2.8          25.7

      TRILIPIX/TriCor          $146       n/m           n/m           n/m

      Kaletra                  $662      (2.4)          1.6          (4.0)

      Niaspan                    --        --            --            --

      Lupron                   $195       5.2           6.2          (1.0)

      Synthroid                 $75      22.6          14.4           8.2

    Nutritional Products

      Pediatric Nutritionals $1,237      10.9           3.8           7.1

      Adult Nutritionals       $914      14.4           4.4          10.0

    Medical Products

      Core Laboratory
       Diagnostics           $1,864       5.9           3.4           2.5

      Coronary Stents          $694      65.4           5.6          59.8

      Diabetes Care            $554       3.0           3.0            --

      Medical Optics           $480      44.4           1.5          42.9

      Molecular Diagnostics    $137      20.5           1.7          18.8

    n/m = Not meaningful

    (a) Includes impact from a nutritional product recall announced in
        September 2010.
    Business Highlights
    - Completed Acquisition of Piramal's Healthcare Solutions
      Business: Completed the acquisition of Piramal's Healthcare Solutions
      business, propelling Abbott to market leadership in the Indian
      pharmaceutical market and further accelerating the company's growth in
      emerging markets. Abbott expects its pharmaceutical sales in India to
      exceed $2.5 billion by 2020.
    - Announced Agreement to Develop and Commercialize Bardoxolone:
      Announced an agreement with Reata Pharmaceuticals to develop and
      commercialize bardoxolone methyl for the treatment of chronic kidney
      disease (CKD) outside the United States, excluding certain Asian
      markets. Bardoxolone is an oral, first-in-class anti-inflammatory
      (Nrf2 activator) that works by increasing the estimated glomerular
      filtration rate (eGFR) of the kidneys. Early clinical studies suggest
      bardoxolone could be a significant improvement to the current standard
      of care and possibly prevent patients from progressing to the later
      stages of the disease and dialysis. A Phase IIb study was recently
      completed and initiation of a global Phase III trial is targeted to
      begin in the coming months.
    - New Data Presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular
      Therapeutics (TCT) Meeting: Data presented from key trials at TCT
      reinforced the outstanding safety data supporting Abbott's
      market-leading XIENCE V(R) Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System.
      In particular, results from both Abbott's SPIRIT IV trial (XIENCE V
      compared to Boston Scientific's TAXUS(R) Express2(TM) drug-eluting
      stent) and the investigator-initiated COMPARE trial (XIENCE V compared
      to TAXUS(R) Liberte(R)) showed that XIENCE outperformed TAXUS in key
      areas of safety and efficacy through two years. Abbott also announced
      positive nine-month results from the first 45 patients enrolled in the
      second stage of the ABSORB trial, and presented six-month results for
      all 101 patients enrolled in the second stage of the bioresorbable
      vascular scaffold (BVS) study. Abbott is the only company with
      long-term data on a complete patient set evaluating a BVS.
    - Received FDA Market Clearance for Next-Generation Contact Lens
      Disinfecting Solution: Received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
      market clearance for RevitaLens Ocutec(TM), a unique next-generation
      multi-purpose disinfecting solution for silicone hydrogel and
      conventional soft contact lenses. RevitaLens Ocutec Multi-purpose
      Disinfecting Solution delivers high-quality disinfection and comfort
      for the user, with the convenience of a single bottle.
    - Announced FDA Approval for First Automated Molecular Test for
      HBV: Announced approval from the FDA to market the Abbott RealTime HBV
      assay for measuring viral load or the amount of hepatitis B virus (HBV)
      in a patient's blood. It is the only approved test capable of
      automating HBV viral load testing from sample extraction to final
      results. The Abbott RealTime HBV assay is now available for
      laboratories that use the Abbott m2000 automated instrument system for
      molecular diagnostic testing.
    - Received FDA Approval for New Dosage Strengths of SIMCOR(R):
      Received FDA approval for two new dosage strengths of SIMCOR. The new
      SIMCOR dosage strengths combine 40 mg of simvastatin - the most
      commonly prescribed dose of simvastatin - with either 500 mg or 1,000
      mg of niacin extended-release. SIMCOR is the first treatment to
      combine Abbott's proprietary niacin extended-release and simvastatin,
      the most commonly used statin.
    - Submitted Regulatory Applications for Briakinumab (ABT-874):
      Submitted applications in the United States and Europe seeking
      regulatory approval for Abbott's investigational IL-12/23 biologic for
      the treatment of psoriasis.

Abbott confirms double-digit ongoing earnings-per-share growth for 2010

Abbott is confirming its 2010 ongoing earnings-per-share guidance and
raising the lower end of its previous guidance range. As a result, Abbott's
ongoing earnings-per-share guidance for full-year 2010 is now $4.16 to $4.18,
excluding specified items.

Abbott forecasts specified items for the full-year 2010 of approximately
$1.24 per share, primarily associated with acquisition integration, cost
reduction initiatives, a litigation reserve, in-process research and
development, product recall and withdrawal costs, impairment of sibutramine
related intangible asset and the one-time impact of the devaluation of the
Venezuelan bolivar on balance sheet translation. Including these specified
items, projected earnings per share under Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (GAAP) would be $2.92 to $2.94 for the full-year 2010.

Abbott declares quarterly dividend

On Sept. 16, 2010, the board of directors of Abbott declared the
company's quarterly common dividend of 44 cents per share, an increase of 10
percent over the prior year. The cash dividend is payable Nov. 15, 2010, to
shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 15, 2010. This marks
the 347th consecutive dividend paid by Abbott since 1924.

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's news releases and other information are available on the
company's Web site at www.abbott.com. Abbott will webcast its live
third-quarter earnings conference call through its Investor Relations Web
site at www.abbottinvestor.com at 8 a.m. Central time today. An archived
edition of the call will be available after 11 a.m. Central time.

- Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -

A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements
for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Abbott
cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive,
governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Abbott's
operations are discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," to our Annual Report on
Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31,
2009
, in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," to our quarterly report on Securities and
Exchange Commission Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, and are
incorporated by reference. Abbott undertakes no obligation to release
publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of
subsequent events or developments.

                         Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries
                          Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                    Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
                         (in millions, except per share data)
                                      (unaudited)

                                                   2010    2009  % Change
                                                   ----    ----  --------

    Net Sales                                    $8,675  $7,761      11.8
                                                 ------  ------

    Cost of products sold                         3,742   3,360      11.3
    Research and development                      1,079     676      59.7
    Selling, general and administrative           2,673   2,085      28.2
                                                  -----   -----
    Total Operating Cost and Expenses             7,494   6,121      22.4
                                                  -----   -----

    Operating earnings                            1,181   1,640     (28.0)

    Net interest expense                            133      97      38.8
    Net foreign exchange (gain) loss                (21)     --       n/m
    Other (income) expense, net                       5    (328)      n/m  1)
                                                    ---    ----
    Earnings before taxes                         1,064   1,871     (43.1)
    Taxes on earnings                               173     391     (55.6)
                                                    ---     ---
    Net Earnings                                   $891  $1,480     (39.8)
                                                   ====  ======

    Net Earnings Excluding Specified Items, as
     described below                             $1,632  $1,429      14.1  2)
                                                 ======  ======

    Diluted Earnings per Common Share             $0.57   $0.95     (40.0)
                                                  =====   =====

    Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, Excluding
     Specified Items,
      as described below                          $1.05   $0.92      14.1  2)
                                                  =====   =====

    Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding
     Plus Dilutive
         Common Stock Options and Awards          1,554   1,552

    1)    Other (income) expense, net in 2009 includes a favorable patent
          litigation settlement and ongoing contractual payments from Takeda
          associated with the conclusion of the TAP joint venture. The patent
          litigation settlement has been treated as a specified item and
          excluded from ongoing operations.

    2)    2010 Net Earnings Excluding Specified Items excludes after-tax
          charges of $513 million, or $0.33 per share, associated primarily
          with the acquisition of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, including recently
          announced restructuring plans, as well as cost reduction
          initiatives, $70 million, or $0.05 per share, for costs of a
          nutritional product recall and the withdrawal of sibutramine, and
          $158 million, or $0.10 per share, for impairment of the intangible
          asset related to sibutramine.

          2009 Net Earnings Excluding Specified Items excludes an after-tax
          Gain of $178 million, or $0.11 per share, relating to a patent
          litigation settlement. This was partially offset by after-tax
          charges of $127 million, or $0.08 per share, primarily for
          integration and cost reduction initiatives.

    NOTE: See attached questions and answers section for further explanation
           of Consolidated Statement of Earnings line items.

    n/m = Percent change is not meaningful.

                         Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries
                          Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
                         (in millions, except per share data)
                                      (unaudited)

                                                    2010     2009 % Change
                                                    ----     ---- --------

    Net Sales                                    $25,199  $21,975    14.7
                                                 -------  -------

    Cost of products sold                         10,620    9,425    12.7
    Research and development                       2,667    1,997    33.6
    Acquired in-process research and development      75       --     n/m
    Selling, general and administrative            7,579    6,181    22.6
                                                   -----    -----
    Total Operating Cost and Expenses             20,941   17,603    19.0
                                                  ------   ------

    Operating earnings                             4,258    4,372    (2.6)

    Net interest expense                             319      287    10.8
    Net foreign exchange (gain) loss                   8       29   (71.6)
    Other (income) expense, net                      (14) (1,315)     n/m  1)
                                                     ---   ------
    Earnings before taxes                          3,945    5,371   (26.5)
    Taxes on earnings                                760    1,164   (34.7)
                                                     ---    -----
    Net Earnings                                  $3,185   $4,207   (24.3)
                                                  ======   ======

    Net Earnings Excluding Specified Items, as
     described below                              $4,476   $3,960    13.0  2)
                                                  ======   ======

    Diluted Earnings per Common Share              $2.04    $2.70   (24.4) 3)
                                                   =====    =====

    Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, Excluding
     Specified Items,
      as described below                           $2.87    $2.54    13.0  2)
                                                   =====    =====

    Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding
     Plus Dilutive
         Common Stock Options and Awards           1,556    1,553

    1)     Other (income) expense, net, in 2009 includes the
           derecognition of a contingent liability and a favorable
           patent litigation settlement. These items have been
           treated as specified items and excluded from ongoing
           operations. 2010 and 2009 also include ongoing
           contractual payments from Takeda associated with the
           conclusion of the TAP joint venture.

    2)     2010 Net Earnings Excluding Specified Items excludes
           after-tax charges of $689 million, or $0.44 per share,
           associated primarily with the acquisition of Solvay
           Pharmaceuticals, including recently announced
           restructuring plans, as well as cost reduction
           initiatives, $115 million, or $0.07 per share, for the
           one-time impact of the devaluation of the Venezuelan
           bolivar on balance sheet translation, $75 million, or
           $0.05 per share, relating to acquired in-process
           research and development related to the Neurocrine
           collaboration, $106 million, or $0.07 per share, for a
           litigation reserve, $60 million, or $0.04 per share, for
           specific health care reform impact on deferred tax
           assets, $88 million, or $0.06 per share, for costs of a
           nutritional product recall and the withdrawal of
           sibutramine, and $158 million, or $0.10 per share, for
           impairment of the intangible asset related to
           sibutramine.

           2009 Net Earnings Excluding Specified Items excludes an after-
           tax gain of $505 million, or $0.32 per share, relating to the
           derecognition of a contingent liability that was recorded in
           connection with the conclusion of the TAP joint venture and
           an after-tax gain of $178 million, or $0.11 per share,
           relating to a patent litigation settlement. This was
           partially offset by $122 million, or $0.08 per share,
           primarily relating to costs associated with the acquisition
           of Advanced Medical Optics, $78 million, or $0.05 per share,
           for litigation settlements and $236 million, or $0.14 per
           share, for cost reduction initiatives and costs associated
           with a delayed product launch.

    3)     Effective January 1, 2009, Abbott adopted FSP EITF 03-6-
           1, "Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-
           Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities,"
           which requires the allocation of net earnings between
           common shareholders and participating securities holders
           when computing earnings per share. As a result, net
           earnings allocated to common shares for the nine months
           ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $3.177 billion and
           $4.196 billion, respectively.

    NOTE: See attached questions and answers section for further
          explanation of Consolidated Statement of Earnings line items.

    n/m = Percent change is not meaningful.

Questions & Answers

Q1) What drove the growth of Worldwide Pharmaceutical sales?

A1) Worldwide Pharmaceutical sales increased 21.7 percent, including an
unfavorable 1.6 percent effect of exchange rates, driven by strong
international pharmaceutical sales growth of approximately 30 percent. Sales
in the quarter reflected a contribution from the Solvay acquisition, which
closed in February 2010.

Growth in the quarter was led by HUMIRA, with global operational sales
growth of 16.1 percent, which excludes an unfavorable 3.5 percent effect of
exchange rates. International operational sales growth for HUMIRA was 23.2
percent, which excludes an unfavorable 6.6 percent effect of exchange rates.
International anti-TNF market growth trends remain strong, and HUMIRA
maintains a market-leading position in many of the international markets.
Global lipid franchise sales growth was 22 percent, including the
international TriCor sales contribution from the Solvay acquisition. U.S.
growth in both the TRILIPIX/TriCor franchise and Niaspan exceeded the growth
rate of the overall cholesterol market.

Q2) What drove the performance in Worldwide Vascular, Worldwide
Nutritional and Worldwide Diagnostics sales?

A2) Double-digit growth in Worldwide Vascular sales was driven by
international vascular sales growth of approximately 40 percent. Abbott holds
the number-one global position in drug-eluting stents, metallic stents and
guidewires. Abbott's drug-eluting stent franchise, which includes XIENCE V
and XIENCE PRIME, continues to perform well, including strong international
performance in Europe and Japan.

Worldwide Nutritional products sales decreased 1.5 percent, including a
favorable 0.8 percent impact from exchange. Growth in the United States
during the quarter was negatively impacted by product returns and lower
shipments resulting from an infant nutrition recall that was announced in
September. Excluding the recall, U.S. nutritionals sales growth would have
been in the high-single digits. International nutritional sales growth was
impacted by a difficult comparison to the prior year due to new product
launches that occurred in the third quarter of 2009 in many international
markets.

Growth in Worldwide Diagnostics was driven by high-single digit growth in
U.S. diagnostics sales, with continued double-digit growth in Abbott's
Molecular and Point of Care diagnostics businesses.

Q3) What drove the strong increase in the third-quarter gross margin
ratio?

A3) The gross margin ratio before and after specified items is shown
below (dollars in millions):

                                                            3Q10
                                                            ----
                                               Cost of     Gross     Gross
                                               Products   Margin    Margin
                                                 Sold     ------       %
                                                 ----                 ---
    As reported (GAAP)                          $3,742    $4,933    56.9%
    Adjusted for specified items:
    Restructuring/integration (acquisitions/
     cost reductions)                            ($141)     $141     1.6%
    Product recall/withdrawal costs               ($84)      $84     0.9%
    Impairment of sibutramine intangible
     asset                                       ($189)     $189     2.2%
    As adjusted                                 $3,328    $5,347    61.6%

The adjusted gross margin ratio of 61.6 percent was above Abbott's
previous forecast and increased significantly from the prior year when the
adjusted gross margin ratio was 57.1 percent. This increase was driven by
strong performance across several businesses, including vascular,
pharmaceuticals, diabetes and diagnostics, as well as a favorable impact from
foreign exchange rates.

Q4) What drove SG&A and R&D investment in the quarter?

A4) In the third quarter, both SG&A and R&D investment increased strong
double-digits, reflecting Abbott's continued investment in programs to drive
future growth, as well as increases associated with the addition of Solvay
Pharmaceuticals. Ongoing R&D expense as a percentage of sales was 10.6
percent, reflecting continued investment in Abbott's broad-based pipeline,
including programs in vascular devices, immunology, neuroscience, oncology
and HCV.

Q5) What was the tax rate for the third-quarter 2010?

A5) The ongoing tax rate this quarter was 16.3 percent, in line with
Abbott's previous forecast.

Q6) How did specified items affect reported results?

A6) Specified items impacted third-quarter results as follows:

                                                      3Q10
                                                      ----
    (dollars in millions, except earnings-
     per-share)                                 Earnings
                                                --------
                                              Pre-   After-    EPS
                                              tax      tax     ---
                                              ---      ---
    As reported (GAAP)                       $1,064    $891   $0.57
    Adjusted for specified items:
    Restructuring/integration
     (acquisitions/cost reductions)            $611    $513   $0.33
    Product recall/withdrawal costs             $84     $70   $0.05
    Impairment of sibutramine intangible
     asset                                     $189    $158   $0.10
    As adjusted                              $1,948  $1,632   $1.05

Restructuring/integration (acquisitions/cost reductions) is associated
with acquisition closing, restructuring, and integration costs, primarily the
recently announced Solvay Pharmaceuticals integration actions. This item also
includes cost reduction initiatives to improve efficiencies, primarily
related to previously announced efforts in the core laboratory diagnostic
business.

Product recall/withdrawal costs relate to a nutritional product recall
and voluntary withdrawal of sibutramine in the United States, Canada,
Australia and other countries, including inventory destruction and other
related expenses. Impairment of sibutramine intangible asset relates to the
non-cash write-off of the remaining balance of an intangible asset attributed
to the product at time of the acquisition.

The impact of specified items by Consolidated Statement of Earnings line
item is as follows (dollars in millions):

                                                     3Q10
                                                     ----
                                     Cost of    R&D      SG&A     Other
                                     Products   ---      ----   (Income)/
                                       Sold                      Expense
                                       ----                      -------
    As reported (GAAP)                $3,742  $1,079   $2,673       $5
    Adjusted for specified items:
    Restructuring/integration
     (acquisitions/cost reductions)    ($141)  ($163)   ($303)     ($4)
    Product recall/withdrawal costs     ($84)     --       --       --
    Impairment of sibutramine
     intangible asset                  ($189)     --       --       --
                                       -----     ---      ---      ---
    As adjusted                       $3,328    $916   $2,370       $1

Q7) What are the key areas of focus in Abbott's broad-based pipeline?

A7) Across its businesses, Abbott has more than 350 clinical trials
underway and expects to deliver more than 75 new products or indications over
the next five years. Following are select highlights from breakthrough
research across both pharmaceuticals and medical products pipelines:

    - Oncology
        - Abbott's oncology pipeline includes therapies that represent
          promising, unique scientific approaches to treating cancer. Abbott
          is focused on the development of targeted treatments that inhibit
          tumor growth and improve response to common cancer therapies.
          Abbott currently has nine new molecular entities in human trials.
        - The oncology pipeline includes: ABT-263, a Bcl-2 family
          protein antagonist; ABT-869, a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor; and
          ABT-888, a PARP-inhibitor that is on track to move into Phase III
          development for breast cancer early next year. Additionally, Abbott
          is evaluating a number of promising mechanisms in its pre-clinical
          pipeline, including work on an early stage cMET antibody biologic
          for cancer.
        - The acquisition of Facet Biotech brought several oncology
          collaborations, including early- and mid-stage compounds that are
          being studied for difficult to treat types of cancer, including
          multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

    - Neuroscience / Pain
        - Abbott is conducting innovative research in neuroscience,
          where it has developed compounds that target receptors in the brain
          that help regulate mood, memory and other neurological functions to
          address conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
          Abbott has eight new molecular entities in clinical trials for
          conditions such as schizophrenia, pain, Alzheimer's disease and
          multiple sclerosis (MS). This includes three compounds in Phase II
          for Alzheimer's.
        - Abbott's neuroscience pipeline also includes a novel,
          next-generation antibody, daclizumab, which recently entered into
          Phase III development for relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), the most
          common form of the disease.
        - Abbott is also pursuing compounds that could provide relief
          across a broad spectrum of pain states, such as chronic back pain,
          postoperative pain and cancer pain.

    - Women's Health
        - The recent collaboration agreement with Neurocrine to develop
          and commercialize elagolix for the treatment of
          endometriosis-related pain brings Abbott a novel, first-in-class
          oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. A Phase IIb
          study in endometriosis was recently completed.

    - Chronic Kidney Disease
        - Abbott announced an agreement to collaborate with Reata
          Pharmaceuticals on the development of bardoxolone, an
          investigational treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD).
          Bardoxolone is a first-in-class anti-inflammatory that activates
          Nrf2, a pathway involved in the progression of CKD. A Phase IIb
          study was recently completed and initiation of a global Phase III
          trial is targeted to begin in the coming months.

    - Immunology
        - Abbott's scientific experience with the anti-TNF biologic
          HUMIRA serves as a strong foundation for its continuing research in
          immunology. In its pipeline, Abbott continues to explore additional
          indications for HUMIRA, and recently submitted regulatory
          applications in the United States and Europe for ABT-874, an
          anti-IL 12/23 biologic for psoriasis. Abbott is also working to
          advance development of its early discovery programs, including
          oral DMARD therapies, as well as other potential biologic targets.
        - Additionally, Abbott's proprietary DVD-Ig technology
          represents an innovative approach that can target multiple
          disease-causing antigens with a single biologic agent. This
          technology could lead to combination biologics for complex
          conditions such as cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, where multiple
          pathways are involved in the disease.

    - Hepatitis C
        - Abbott's antiviral program is focused on the treatment of
          hepatitis C (HCV), a disease that affects more than 180 million
          people worldwide, with approximately three to four million people
          newly infected each year. Abbott's broad-based HCV development
          programs include its partnership with Enanta Pharmaceuticals to
          discover protease inhibitors, as well as its internal programs
          focused on additional viral targets, including polymerase
          inhibitors.
        - Abbott currently has three HCV compounds in clinical trials,
          including a protease inhibitor, a polymerase inhibitor and an NS5A
          inhibitor. Abbott is well positioned to explore combinations of
          these compounds, a strategy with the potential to markedly
          transform current treatment practices by shortening therapy
          duration, improving tolerability and increasing cure rates.

    - Molecular Diagnostics
        - Abbott expects to launch more than 12 new molecular
          diagnostic products over the next two to three years, including
          several novel oncology and infectious disease assays, as well as
          improved instrument systems. Abbott received approval from the U.S.
          Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Abbott RealTime
          HBV assay for measuring viral load or the amount of hepatitis B
          virus in a patient's blood, as well as, a new sensitive molecular
          diagnostic test and instrument to simultaneously detect two of the
          nation's most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhea
          and chlamydia.

    - Diagnostics
        - In 2010, Abbott has launched a number of key assays on its
          ARCHITECT immunochemistry platform, which will significantly
          broaden its industry-leading menu. These tests include assays to
          assess Chagas disease, ovarian cancer, acute kidney injury and HIV.
        - Abbott expects to launch several more products this year and
          also has several next generation instrument systems for hematology,
          immunochemistry and blood screening in development.

    - Vascular Devices
        - Abbott has the industry's most robust vascular pipeline and
          expects to deliver more than 10 coronary technologies over the next
          five years. Abbott is working on well-staged incremental advances,
          and truly game-changing technologies that have the ability to
          restate the market.
        - MitraClip - Presented additional data from the pivotal trial,
          EVEREST II, at the TCT conference, which continued to demonstrate
          the safety and sustained meaningful clinical benefits of the
          therapy for the treatment of mitral regurgitation. Abbott's
          MitraClip system is on the market in Europe and is currently under
          review for approval by the FDA.
        - XIENCE PRIME - Abbott's next-generation drug eluting stent
          (DES) that capitalizes on the proven attributes of XIENCE V while
          offering a novel stent design and a modified delivery system for
          improved deliverability. XIENCE PRIME is on the market in Europe,
          and is in clinical trials in the United States with an expected
          launch in 2012.
        - XIENCE Nano - XIENCE V for small vessels is in clinical
          trials in the United States. This 2.25 mm diameter stent was
          launched in Europe in 2008, and is expected to launch in the United
          States in 2011.
        - "Thinman" DES - Abbott is developing an ultra thin DES, which
          would be the thinnest DES on the market at the time of launch. Thin
          stent struts are designed to improve clinical outcomes by reducing
          vessel injury upon deployment, enabling faster healing and
          improving deliverability in complex anatomy.
        - Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS) - Abbott is developing
          a BVS that is gradually resorbed into the vessel wall - much like
          sutures are resorbed after healing a wound - with the potential to
          restore full vessel motion. Abbott has the most advanced BVS
          clinical program in the industry.
        - Core Coronary products - Abbott is continuing to expand its
          position in the more than $2 billion core coronary market, recently
          launching a next-generation frontline balloon dilatation catheter
          in Europe. Abbott plans to launch several new balloons in Europe
          and the United States over the next year. In addition, Abbott has a
          new line of guide wires in development.

    - Vision Care
        - Abbott expects more than 20 new products and technology
          advancements over the next five years, including the launch of a
          new contact lens solution that is underway in Europe and the United
          States. In its market-leading LASIK business, Abbott is expanding
          its proprietary laser platform into new vision correction
          applications, including cataract surgery, and is developing new
          diagnostic instruments and treatments to improve visual outcomes.
          Abbott also continues to expand its premium and standard
          intraocular lenses (IOL), including Synchrony, its next-generation
          IOL approved in Europe and other countries around the world.
          Synchrony is currently under FDA review in the United States.

Financial, John Thomas, +1-847-938-2655, or Larry Peepo, +1-847-935-6722, or Media, Melissa Brotz, +1-847-935-3456, or Scott Stoffel, +1-847-936-9502, all of Abbott

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