Abbott 2006 Annual Report : Medical Products

Jerry Mellot · Montana
After Jerry Mellott complained of neck pain, dizziness and blurred vision, his doctor used the RX Accunet embolic protection device and RX Acculink carotid stent to re-establish blood flow in his clogged carotid artery. With a reduced risk of stroke, Jerry’s enjoying nature in Montana.

Medical Products: improving patient care with new technologies

In 2006, our medical products business introduced new products and advanced a pipeline of promising technologies in key high-growth, technology-driven markets. Most notably, we launched Xience V — our next-generation drug-eluting stent to treat coronary artery disease — in Europe and Asia.

Vascular: building a leader and expanding our presence

We increased our presence in the rapidly growing vascular marketplace in 2006 with the acquisition of Guidant’s coronary and endovascular businesses, significantly expanding our commercial, manufacturing, and research and development (R&D) capabilities, and creating the world’s largest vascular sales force. Guidant added a robust pipeline and a leading product portfolio, featuring the Xience V Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System, the Multi-Link Vision metallic stent and a second carotid stent platform.

Drug-eluting stents are tiny metal scaffolds placed in diseased arteries to keep them open and re-establish blood flow — a treatment alternative to open-heart surgery. In our coronary business, we launched Xience V in Europe and Asia. Currently an investigational device in the United States and Japan, Xience V has been well-received by physicians outside of the United States for its world-class deliverability, safety profile and unprecedented efficacy. The results of a recent clinical trial demonstrated the superiority of Xience V compared with a leading drug-eluting stent with respect to the study’s primary endpoint. Xience V features the market-leading Multi-Link Vision coronary stent platform and everolimus, a drug shown to reduce tissue growth. Beyond Xience V, Abbott Vascular is developing additional next-generation technologies, such as a bioabsorbable drug-eluting stent, which could address clinical challenges that still exist.

Abbott’s endovascular business offers a portfolio of carotid stents, embolic protection devices, balloons and wires. In this emerging frontier of vascular disease, Abbott is the only company that offers two carotid stent platforms — providing physicians with a choice to better address patient needs. Carotid stenting is a less-invasive alternative to surgery for patients at risk of stroke from a partially blocked carotid artery, the major blood vessel in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. The Xact and RX Acculink stents are used with the Emboshield and RX Accunet embolic protection devices to catch plaque (emboli) fragments that may be released during the stenting procedure. Abbott continues to research carotid stenting to expand access to more patients.

Abbott is a pioneer in closure technologies, offering products designed to facilitate secure closure of the vascular access site following catheterizations. StarClose, our novel clip-based technology, closes the femoral artery securely in a matter of seconds and continues to be well-received by clinicians worldwide.

Rosa Rosen · New York
Diabetes doesn’t slow Rosa Rosen down. FreeStyle Freedom gives her an accurate reading of her blood glucose levels in just five seconds, allowing Rosa to spend more time working as a diabetes educator, teaching others about the disease.

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Diabetes Care: improving patient comfort and convenience

Abbott has established a leading position in the large and growing blood glucose monitoring market by recognizing and reducing the discomfort and inconvenience patients often experience with traditional finger-stick testing. We continue to introduce systems that are easier to use, require smaller blood samples and provide faster results.

In 2006, Abbott launched FreeStyle Freedom, an easy-to-read, easy-to-hold blood glucose meter. FreeStyle Freedom features virtually pain-free testing, using the world’s smallest blood sample size. It also offers a fast five-second test time. Abbott also markets FreeStyle Flash (FreeStyle Mini), the world’s smallest meter, and Precision Xtra (Precision Optium/Xceed), a home-use meter that measures glucose and ketone levels. We continue to update and refresh our current product lines to further improve comfort and convenience for patients.

Looking to the future of blood glucose testing, two next-generation products in our pipeline have the potential to further enhance diabetes management. The FreeStyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitoring System is designed to measure glucose levels once per minute, 24 hours a day, using a sensor worn on the body that wirelessly transmits readings to a pager-like device kept in a pocket or purse. By supplying patients with more data about their glucose levels, FreeStyle Navigator has the potential to improve diabetes management. We are also developing a fully integrated blood glucose monitoring system that combines a glucose meter, test strips and lancing capabilities in one device, enabling simple point-and-click testing.

Molecular Diagnostics: building leadership by improving testing

Molecular diagnostics — the analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins at the molecular level — is a relatively new and fast-growing market. Our instruments and tests provide physicians with critical information based on subtle changes in patients’ genes, allowing for earlier diagnosis, selection of appropriate therapies and monitoring of disease progression.

Beth Fitzgerald · Ohio
PathFinder and TraXis, systems for spinal fusion, enabled Beth Fitzgerald to conquer chronic back pain. These minimally invasive technologies dramatically reduced Beth’s recovery time and allowed her to rediscover her love of competitive horseback riding.

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Abbott’s product portfolio includes the m2000, a less labor-intensive, automated instrument for molecular testing based on real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology. In 2006, we expanded our testing menu in Europe with a real-time PCR test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, the two most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world. We plan to launch a real-time PCR hepatitis B assay in 2007, expanding the m2000 system’s growing menu of tests and providing laboratories in Europe a complete menu of infectious disease assays. We anticipate launching the m2000 in the United States in 2007. We are also researching molecular diagnostics for several types of cancer and expect to introduce new tests for melanoma and cervical cancer in Europe in 2007.

There are approximately 600,000 patients in the United States living with bladder cancer. Early diagnosis and disease monitoring are key to increasing survival rates. UroVysion, Abbott’s molecular test for diagnosing and monitoring bladder cancer, was recently recognized for its superior performance compared to conventional testing. UroVysion was found to be more sensitive in its ability to diagnose certain types of bladder cancer at an earlier stage.

Last year, our PathVysion HER-2 assay helped give hope to the 20,000 breast cancer patients in the United States who are candidates for Herceptin, a targeted cancer therapy. PathVysion is a DNA-based test that detects extra copies of the HER-2/neu gene, identifying which patients would benefit from Herceptin.

Spine: advancing the art and science of spine surgery

Abbott offers innovative devices and implants for the treatment of spinal disorders, traumatic injuries and deformity. In 2006, we launched the Harmony Retractor Minimally Invasive Access System, providing surgeons with customized access to the spine through a tissue-sparing approach. The Nex-Link System was enhanced, giving surgeons more flexibility to connect the neck to the upper back area with spinal devices. Additional commercially available products include Ant-Cer, PathFinder and TraXis.

We’re investing in nonfusion, motion-preserving technologies to better serve the needs of patients. The Wallis System, a dynamic stabilization device used successfully in Europe, is currently in clinical trials in the United States. This nonfusion technology is designed to ease lower-back pain earlier in the continuum of care, while preserving motion in the spine.

Animal Health: building on our core competencies

Abbott continues to apply its fundamental strengths in human health to advance veterinary medicine. Expanding our presence in the $5 billion companion animal market by bringing value to small-animal veterinarians and pet owners is the focus of our growth strategy. In 2006, we launched the AlphaTrak Blood Glucose Monitoring System for cats and dogs, which, based on our FreeStyle technology, provides a fast, accurate response with just a tiny blood sample. Our surgical suite product line addresses veterinary needs in anesthesia, fluid therapy and medical devices. In animal nutrition, CliniCare offers a balance of vitamins and minerals and is ideal for animals that are critically ill or recovering.