Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2007.
- Worldwide sales in the fourth quarter increased 16.1 percent to $7.2 billion, including a favorable 4.5 percent effect of exchange rates. For the full-year 2007, worldwide sales increased 15.3 percent to $25.9 billion, including a favorable 3.2 percent effect of exchange rates.
- U.S. pharmaceutical sales increased 16.6 percent and international pharmaceutical sales increased 21.3 percent, driven by double-digit growth in HUMIRA(R), Kaletra(R) and TriCor(R), and including $179 million of Niaspan(R) sales. HUMIRA achieved full-year worldwide sales in excess of $3 billion in 2007 and the company forecasts global sales for HUMIRA of approximately $4 billion in 2008.
- Worldwide medical products sales increased 11.5 percent, driven by 15.2 percent growth in worldwide Diabetes Care sales and 16.4 percent growth in international diagnostics sales.
- Worldwide nutritional products sales were led by 26.2 percent growth in international nutritionals, with continued strong performance in key emerging growth markets.
"The strength and balance of Abbott's broad mix of businesses helped us to deliver another year of consistent performance," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "Both our sales and earnings per share increased double digits. Given the leadership positions of our major businesses, and the new products launching over the next year, we expect another year of strong results in 2008."
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 65,000 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.