Abbott Reports First Quarter Results Led by Strong Medical Products Performance

- Shows Year-Over-Year and Sequential Improvement in Gross Margin and Continued Strong Cash Flow -

Abbott Reports First Quarter Results Led by Strong Medical Products Performance

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006.

  --  Abbott's diluted earnings per share for the first quarter were $0.57,
      excluding specified items and including, for the first time, the
      impact of stock compensation expense -- within the company's previous
      guidance range of $0.56 to $0.58.  Diluted earnings per share under
      U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) increased in the
      quarter to $0.56 from $0.53 in 2005.

  --  The gross margin ratio improved by approximately 500 basis points from
      the first-quarter 2005.

  --  Cash flow remained strong this quarter, with operating cash flow of
      $1.2 billion.

  --  Adjusting both periods for the amendment of the Boehringer Ingelheim
      distribution agreement, worldwide sales increased 7.9 percent before
      an unfavorable 2.7 percent effect of exchange rates. Reported
      worldwide sales were $5.2 billion, down 3.7 percent.

  --  Medical products sales increased double-digits in the first quarter,
      led by strong performance in Abbott Diabetes Care and U.S. nutrition
      sales, as well as more than 50 percent growth in Abbott Vascular
      following the U.S. launch of StarClose(R).

  --  During the quarter, Abbott began reporting international nutritionals
      as a new operating division, Abbott Nutrition International (ANI),
      which is focused on the rapidly growing international nutrition
      market.  ANI reported sales of $376 million, an increase of
      18.2 percent.

  --  Pharmaceutical sales growth was driven by the strong double-digit
      performance of HUMIRA(R), TriCor(R), Depakote(R) and Kaletra(R),
      following the launch of the more convenient tablet formulation.

  --  Abbott recently received European regulatory approval for its
      previously announced agreement to purchase Guidant's vascular
      business, which is contingent upon the closing of Boston Scientific's
      acquisition of Guidant.  The proposed transaction is under review by
      the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.


"We achieved our performance expectations for the quarter," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "Our market-leading products and businesses delivered strong results, led by double-digit growth in medical products. In addition, we made significant progress during the quarter to advance our broad-based business strategy with the agreement to acquire Guidant's vascular business."

The following is a summary of first-quarter 2006 sales for each of Abbott's major operating divisions.

  Sales Summary -                                 % Change of     Impact
   Quarter Ended           1Q06       % Change     all non-BI   of Exchange
   3/31/06             ($ millions)   vs. 1Q05      Products    on % Change

  Total Sales             $5,183        (3.7)          5.2        (2.7)

    Total U.S. Sales      $2,674        (9.7)          6.7         ---

    Total International
     Sales                $2,509         3.7                      (6.0)

  U.S. Pharmaceutical
   Sales                  $1,448       (22.6)          2.2         ---

  Abbott International
   (non-U.S.

   Pharmaceuticals)       $1,447         0.9                      (6.5)

  Ross Products             $766        13.0                       ---

  Abbott Nutrition
   International Sales*     $376        18.2                      (2.4)

  Worldwide Diagnostics
   Sales                    $918         3.5                      (4.4)

    U.S. Diagnostics        $330         7.0                       ---

    International
     Diagnostics            $588         1.6                      (6.8)


   * The international nutrition business, formerly a part of Abbott
     International, was realigned as a new division, Abbott Nutrition
     International (ANI), effective for 2006 reporting.  See Q&A Answer 10
     for further discussion.

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



The following is a summary of Abbott's first-quarter 2006 sales for selected products.

  Quarter Ended
   3/31/06                    Percent          Percent            Percent
  (dollars in         U.S.     Change  Rest of  Change   Global    Change
    millions)        Sales    vs. 1Q05  World  vs. 1Q05   Sales   vs. 1Q05

  Pharmaceutical
   Products
  HUMIRA              $218      33.2    $174    46.9 (a)   $392    38.9
  Kaletra             $120      27.6    $160    11.3 (b)   $280    17.7
  Biaxin
   (clarithromycin)    $51     (55.2)   $198   (17.3)(c)   $249   (29.5)
  Depakote            $229      12.0     $17    39.0       $246    13.5
  Ultane/Sevorane      $82       9.4    $125     2.5 (d)   $207     5.2
  TriCor              $205      20.0     ---     ---       $205    20.0
  Omnicef             $143       5.9     ---     ---       $143     5.9
  Synthroid           $111      (9.9)    $15    18.2       $126    (7.4)
  Leuprolide           ---       ---     $53     0.4 (e)    $53     0.4
  Lansoprazole         ---       ---     $40    11.8 (f)    $40    11.8

  Medical Products
  Pediatric
   Nutritionals       $272      (1.9)   $200    30.8       $472     9.7
  Adult Nutritionals  $254       1.1    $185     8.4 (g)   $439     4.1
  Abbott Diabetes
   Care               $139      11.7    $134     9.6 (h)   $273    10.7
  Abbott Vascular      $53      85.2     $30    15.5 (i)    $83    52.1

  TAP Pharmaceutical
   Products
  (not consolidated
   in Abbott's sales)
  Prevacid            $616       4.5     ---     ---       $616     4.5
  Lupron              $169      (1.5)    ---     ---       $168    (1.5)


  (a) Without the negative impact of exchange of 13.9 percent, Humira sales
      increased 60.8 percent internationally.
  (b) Without the negative impact of exchange of 6.7 percent, Kaletra sales
      increased 18.0 percent internationally.
  (c) Without the negative impact of exchange of 6.3 percent, clarithromycin
      sales decreased 11.0 percent internationally.
  (d) Without the negative impact of exchange of 6.3 percent, Sevorane sales
      increased 8.8 percent internationally.
  (e) Without the negative impact of exchange of 4.6 percent, leuprolide
      sales increased 5.0 percent internationally.
  (f) Without the positive impact of exchange of 4.9 percent, lansoprazole
      sales increased 6.9 percent internationally.
  (g) Without the negative impact of exchange of 5.4 percent, Adult
      Nutritionals sales increased 13.8 percent internationally.
  (h) Without the negative impact of exchange of 8.0 percent, Abbott
      Diabetes Care sales increased 17.6 percent internationally.
  (i) Without the negative impact of exchange of 10.5 percent, Abbott
      Vascular sales increased 26.0 percent internationally.



  Business Highlights

  --  In March, at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions,
      Abbott presented the first human clinical data for ZoMaxx(TM),
      Abbott's investigational coronary drug-eluting stent system.  The data
      demonstrated 100 percent procedural success and no major adverse
      cardiac events during the four-month follow-up period.

  --  Abbott received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory
      approval to market FreeStyle(R) Freedom(TM), a blood glucose
      monitoring system with a fast five-second average testing time and a
      large, easy-to-read display.  FreeStyle Freedom offers virtually pain-
      free testing, using a blood sample size of 0.3 micro liter, the
      smallest sample size required of any blood glucose monitoring product
      on the market.

  --  Beginning in 2006, the international nutrition business, formerly a
      part of Abbott International, is operating as a new division, Abbott
      Nutrition International.  The new structure allows for more focus on
      both Abbott's pharmaceutical and nutrition businesses outside the
      United States, while promoting a stronger relationship between the
      U.S. and International Nutrition businesses.  Abbott is announcing
      plans to expand nutritional plant capacity in Asia to support growth,
      particularly in China.

  --  Results from CLASSIC-I, a Phase III pivotal study designed to evaluate
      the efficacy and tolerability of HUMIRA(R) (adalimumab) to induce
      remission in patients with active Crohn's disease, were published in
      Gastroenterology.  Results of this study indicated that treatment with
      HUMIRA induced a statistically significant increase in remission at
      four weeks compared to placebo.  Crohn's disease affects approximately
      500,000 people in the United States.  Approximately 75 percent of
      these patients may require future surgery.

  --  Abbott announced a broad drug-discovery collaboration with Myriad
      Genetics.  Under a five-year research agreement, Myriad will use its
      genetics and other discovery technologies to identify human genomic
      profiles associated with a variety of diseases.  Abbott will advance
      these discoveries through its chemical genomics platform to identify
      targets and leads for drug discovery.  Each company will have
      exclusive rights to the therapeutic targets and lead drug compounds to
      expand its respective therapeutic pipelines.


Abbott confirms earnings-per-share guidance for the full-year 2006 and issues earnings-per-share guidance for the second-quarter 2006

Abbott's earnings-per-share guidance, including the impact of stock compensation expense, for full-year 2006 remains unchanged at $2.51 to $2.57 and, for the first time, Abbott is providing earnings-per-share guidance of $0.59 to $0.61 for the second quarter, both excluding specified items.

This guidance does not include the estimated impact of the Guidant vascular transaction. Abbott will provide additional details after the completion of this acquisition.

Abbott expects previously announced specified items for the full-year 2006 of $0.05 per share, with $0.01 per share expected in the second-quarter 2006. Including the specified items, projected earnings per share under GAAP would be $2.46 to $2.52 for the full-year 2006 and $0.58 to $0.60 for the second quarter. The estimate of specified items excludes those items associated with the Guidant vascular acquisition, which will include acquired in-process R&D expense and other one-time charges associated with the transaction. The company expects to provide estimates of these items by the second-quarter earnings conference call.

Abbott declares quarterly dividend

On Feb. 17, 2006, the board of directors of Abbott increased the company's quarterly common dividend to 29.5 cents per share. The cash dividend is payable May 15, 2006, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2006. This marks the 329th consecutive dividend paid by Abbott since 1924.

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 60,000 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 http://www.abbott.com/ . Abbott will webcast its live first-quarter earnings conference call through its Investor Relations Web site at http://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 the purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Abbott's operations are discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and Exhibit 99.1 of our Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2005, and are incorporated by reference. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.

                   Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries
                    Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                First Quarter Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005
                                (unaudited)

                                                                Percent
                                      2006            2005       Change

  Net Sales                      $5,183,459,000  $5,382,679,000   (3.7) a)
  Cost of products sold           2,169,704,000   2,522,531,000  (14.0) b)
  Research & development            485,142,000     436,656,000   11.1  b)
  Selling, general &
   administrative                 1,464,415,000   1,287,621,000   13.7  b)
  Total Operating Cost and
   Expenses                       4,119,261,000   4,246,808,000   (3.0)

  Operating earnings              1,064,198,000   1,135,871,000   (6.3)

  Net interest expense               34,519,000      42,270,000  (18.3)
  Net foreign exchange (gain) loss     (610,000)     (3,046,000)   n/m
  (Income) from TAP Pharmaceutical
   Products Inc. joint venture     (101,311,000)    (82,845,000)  22.3
  Other (income) expense, net        (3,417,000)      1,636,000    n/m
  Earnings before taxes           1,135,017,000   1,177,856,000   (3.6)
  Taxes on earnings                 270,134,000     339,968,000  (20.5)

  Net Earnings                     $864,883,000    $837,888,000    3.2  b)

  Net Earnings Excluding Specified
   Items, as described below       $882,274,000    $919,097,000   (4.0) b)c)

  Diluted Earnings Per Common
   Share                                  $0.56           $0.53    5.7  b)

  Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
   Excluding Specified Items, as
   described below                        $0.57           $0.58   (1.7) b)c)

  Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
   Excluding Specified Items and
   Incremental Stock Compensation
   Expense, as described below            $0.64           $0.58   10.3  b)c)

  Average Number of Common Shares
   Outstanding Plus Dilutive
   Common Stock Options and
   Awards                         1,537,695,000   1,569,505,000


   a) Adjusting both periods for the amendment of the Boehringer Ingelheim
      distribution agreement, net sales increased by 5.2 percent.

   b) 2006 results include incremental stock compensation expense that was
      not required under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in 2005.
      Incremental stock compensation expense in 2006 totaled $103 million,
      after-tax, or $0.07 per share.  See Q&A Answer 4 for stock
      compensation expense detail by Consolidated Statement of Earnings line
      item.

   c) 2006 Earnings Excluding Specified Items excludes after-tax charges of
      $17 million or $0.01 per share primarily related to cost
      reduction/integration activities and other.  2005 Earnings Excluding
      Specified Items excludes after-tax charges of $24 million or $0.01 per
      share primarily related to cost reduction initiatives and $57 million
      or $0.04 per share related to the tax expense associated with the
      repatriation of foreign earnings.

   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 and Answers

  Q1)  What impacted total sales growth?

  A1)  Adjusted for sales from the Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) distribution
       agreement in both periods and before the effect of exchange rates,
       total corporate sales growth for the first quarter was 7.9 percent.
       Reported worldwide sales were $5.2 billion, down 3.7 percent,
       including a 2.7 percent unfavorable impact of exchange rates.  The
       unfavorable effect of exchange rates versus the prior year is
       expected to be strongest in the first quarter, moderating over the
       remaining quarters of 2006, if rates were to continue at current
       levels.

       As announced in August 2005, we amended our co-promotion and
       distribution agreement for the three BI products: Mobic, Flomax and
       Micardis.  As of Jan. 1, 2006, Abbott no longer distributes these
       products and no longer records sales for distribution activities.
       Although this change reduces reported 2006 sales growth, it also
       results in significant improvements in the gross margin ratio, as
       discussed below.  Abbott earns a small residual commission related to
       these products in 2006, and the expected 2006 contribution to net
       income remains the same as would have occurred under the original
       agreement.


  Q2)  What drove pharmaceutical sales growth, as adjusted for the BI
       products?

  A2)  In the United States, growth was led by double-digit increases in
       HUMIRA, Kaletra, TriCor and Depakote.  HUMIRA increased more than
       33 percent as the product continued to gain market share in both the
       rheumatology and dermatology self-injectable biologics markets.  We
       remain on track to achieve our full-year HUMIRA worldwide sales
       forecast of more than $1.9 billion.  Growth in U.S. pharmaceuticals
       was partially offset by a decline in Biaxin sales resulting from the
       May 2005 entrance of generic competition for the immediate-release
       formulation, as well as a weaker flu season.  As a reminder, we
       continue to promote the once-daily formulation, Biaxin XL, which is
       not subject to generic competition.

       Sales of Abbott's international pharmaceuticals increased 7.4 percent
       during the quarter, before a 6.5 percent unfavorable impact from
       exchange.  International growth was favorably impacted by double-
       digit growth of Kaletra, as well as the continued strength of HUMIRA,
       with sales this quarter up 47 percent, or more than 60 percent before
       the impact of exchange.  Growth was partially offset by lower
       clarithromycin sales resulting from a weaker flu season.


  Q3)  What drove double-digit medical products sales growth?

  A3)  Double-digit sales growth in medical products was led by Abbott
       Vascular, which grew more than 50 percent globally.  Abbott
       Vascular's strong performance was led by the successful U.S. launch
       of the StarClose vascular closure device and continued momentum of
       the Xact/Emboshield carotid stent system launch.  Double-digit sales
       growth in Abbott Nutrition International, Ross Products and Abbott
       Diabetes Care also contributed to the strong results in medical
       products.


  Q4)  How did stock compensation expense impact the quarter?

  A4)  First-quarter 2006 earnings per share includes incremental stock
       compensation expense of $0.07 per share that was included in the
       various line items of the Consolidated Statement of Earnings, as
       follows (in millions):


                                           1Q06
                                           ----
       Cost of products sold                 $9
       R&D                                  $32
       SG&A                                 $94
       Pre-tax Total                       $135
                                           ----
       Taxes                                $32
                                           ----
       After-tax Total                     $103
                                           ====

       The remaining $0.08 to $0.09 per share of forecasted incremental
       stock compensation expense is expected to occur evenly throughout the
       last three quarters of 2006.  As a reminder, most stock compensation
       expense was not required to be charged to earnings under GAAP prior
       to 2006.


  Q5)  How did specified items and stock compensation expense affect
       reported results?

  A5)  Specified items and stock compensation expense impacted first-quarter
       Net Earnings as follows (dollars in millions, except earnings-per-
       share data):


                                1Q06                      1Q05
                         Earnings                  Earnings
                    Pre-tax  After-tax   EPS   Pre-tax  After-tax   EPS
  As reported       $1,135      $865   $0.56   $1,178      $838   $0.53
  Add back
   specified items:
    Cost reduction/
     integration
     activities
     and other         $23       $17   $0.01      $31       $24   $0.01
    Tax expense for
     repatriation      ---       ---     ---      ---       $57   $0.04
  Excluding specified
   items            $1,158      $882   $0.57   $1,209      $919   $0.58
  Add back
   incremental stock
   compensation
   expense            $135      $103   $0.07      ---       ---     ---
  As adjusted       $1,293      $985   $0.64   $1,209      $919   $0.58


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


                               1Q06                            1Q05
                 Cost of                             Cost of
                 Products                            Products
                  Sold     R&D     SG&A     Total      Sold    SG&A   Total
  Cost reduction/
   integration
   activities
   and other      $11      ($2)     $14      $23       $25      $6     $31
  Total           $11      ($2)     $14      $23       $25      $6     $31


       The first-quarter 2006 specified items above are primarily related to
       previously announced initiatives to reduce costs and improve gross
       margins related to Abbott's manufacturing and acquisition integration
       activities.  First-quarter 2005 results were impacted by specified
       items related to the tax expense for repatriated earnings and the
       residual impacts of acquisitions and restructurings.


  Q6)  How does the first-quarter gross margin profile compare to the prior
       year?

  A6)  The gross margin ratio improved this quarter by approximately
       500 basis points, to 58.5 percent, excluding specified items and
       stock compensation expense, consistent with our forecast.  Gross
       margin before and after specified items and stock compensation
       expense is shown below (dollars in millions):


                                       1Q06                   1Q05
                              Cost of          Gross Cost of          Gross
                              Products Gross  Margin Products Gross  Margin
                                Sold   Margin    %     Sold   Margin    %

  As reported                  $2,170  $3,014  58.1%  $2,523  $2,860  53.1%
  Less incremental stock
   compensation expense           ($9)     $9   0.2%    ---     ---    ---
  Excluding stock compensation
   expense                     $2,161  $3,023  58.3%  $2,523  $2,860  53.1%
  Less specified items:
    Cost reduction/integration
     activities and other        ($11)    $11   0.2%    ($25)    $25   0.5%
  As adjusted                  $2,150  $3,034  58.5%  $2,498  $2,885  53.6%


       The significantly improved gross margin ratio resulted primarily from
       the amendment to the BI agreement, which ended Abbott's activities as
       the distributor of these low-margin products effective Jan. 1, 2006.


  Q7)  How much did R&D and SG&A increase during the quarter?

  A7)  The inclusion of stock compensation expense in 2006 results has
       impacted the comparison of R&D and SG&A expense to the prior year as
       described in the following table:


                               1Q06     1Q05           % Increase
                     Stock                                      Excl. Stock
                      Comp.                                        Comp.
                     Expense   Other   Total    Total   Reported  Expense

       R&D             $32      $453    $485     $437     11.1%    3.9%
       SG&A            $94    $1,370  $1,464   $1,288     13.7%    6.4%


       Excluding stock compensation expense, both R&D and SG&A investment
       increased in the mid-single-digit range during the quarter, in line
       with our expectations.  Our full-year guidance of mid- to high-
       single-digit growth remains unchanged.  Including stock compensation
       expense, we expect double-digit increases in both of these line items
       for the full year.


  Q8)  What was the tax rate in the quarter?

  A8)  The tax rate this quarter was 23.8 percent, in line with our previous
       forecast.


  Q9)  How did the TAP joint venture perform in the quarter?

  A9)  Income from the TAP joint venture of $101 million was in line with
       our previous expectations for the quarter.  Total TAP sales were
       $785 million, up 3 percent.  Prevacid sales were up 4.5 percent,
       while Lupron sales were down 1.5 percent, consistent with the
       full-year outlook for both products.  We continue to expect full-year
       2006 income from the TAP joint venture of $450 million to
       $475 million.


  Q10) How is the new Abbott Nutrition International division (ANI)
       reflected in reporting?

  A10) The international nutrition business, formerly a part of Abbott
       International (AI), was realigned as a new division, Abbott Nutrition
       International (ANI), for 2006 reporting.  This was done to enhance
       the strategic focus of this large and rapidly growing business,
       positioning it to maximize the many opportunities in nutritional
       markets around the world.  As a result, sales performance of ANI will
       now be reported in the quarterly earnings release, as will Abbott
       International, which is now focused solely on pharmaceuticals.

       The following table provides a comparison of the new reporting
       structure to the prior year:


                                                  1Q06              1Q05
                                             New Reporting
                                                Structure        As Reported
  Abbott International (Included
   Pharmaceuticals and Nutritionals in
   2005)                                            ---             $1,753
  Abbott International (non-U.S.
   Pharmaceuticals only in 2006)                  $1,447              ---
  Abbott Nutrition International
   (Nutritionals only in 2006)                      $376              ---
  Total                                           $1,823            $1,753


       The historical results of this new reporting structure are as
       follows:


                                        As Reported     2006 Reporting Basis
                                          Abbott                  Abbott
                                       International      ANI  International
       2004
                 1st Quarter                $1,496        $287      $1,209
                 2nd Quarter                $1,508        $313      $1,195
                 3rd Quarter                $1,445        $314      $1,131
                 4th Quarter                $1,717        $349      $1,368
                 Total                      $6,166      $1,263      $4,903

       2005
                 1st Quarter                $1,753        $318      $1,435
                 2nd Quarter                $1,770        $361      $1,409
                 3rd Quarter                $1,644        $366      $1,278
                 4th Quarter                $1,800        $369      $1,431
                 Total                      $6,967      $1,414      $5,553

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110328.html

Website: http://www.abbott.com/



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