Abbott

Abbott has risen rapidly in the pharma rankings in recent years, driven onwards by the runaway success of its anti-inflammatory blockbuster Humira and fast-growing sales of stents for heart patients.

The US company’s operations are based around three divisions – pharmaceuticals, nutritional products and medical products, which include diagnostics and medical devices.

Abbott launched its TNF-a blocker drug Humira (adalimumab) in 2002, and the drug has been the company’s greatest engine of growth ever since.

Despite being third to market behind Amgen/Pfizer’s Enbrel and J&J’s Remicade, Humira is now one of the industry’s biggest products.

In 2009, sales of the drug grew 21%, bringing revenues to $5.48 billion.

Abbott now claims Humira has a market-leading position in many international markets, including the number one share position in Western Europe.

The company also has a significant stake in the lucrative lipid management market, based on its niacin-based products, including TriCor/Trilipix and Niaspan.

The company’s latest product in this area is Simcor, a fixed-dose combination of niacin extended-release and simvastatin, which is currently awaiting FDA approval.

In September 2009, the company bought Solvay Pharmaceuticals. The Belgium-based company adds more than $3 billion in annual sales to Abbott’s revenues, mostly outside the US and with significant presence in emerging markets.

The acquisition will also add approximately $500 million to Abbott's annual pharmaceutical R&D investment.

“The acquisition of Solvay Pharmaceuticals further diversifies our pharmaceutical portfolio, expands our presence in key high-growth emerging markets, enhances our investment in R&D and accelerates our long-term earnings-per-share growth outlook,” said Abbott’s chairman and chief executive Miles D. White.

Facts & Figures

Chairman and Chief Executive: Miles D. White

Corporate Headquarters: North suburban Chicago, Illinois, USA

Number of Employees: Worldwide: 72,000

2008 Sales: $29.5 billion

2007 R&D Investment: $2.5 billion

Pharmaceutical Research Centres:

Abbott Park and North Chicago, Illinois, USA
Parsippany, New Jersey, USA
Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Ludwigshafen, Germany

Therapy areas

AnesthesiaAnti-infectivesCardiovascularImmunologyMetabolicsNeuroscienceOncologyPain CareRenal CareVirology

Key products

AzmacortBiaxinDepakoteHumiraKaletra/AluviaLupronNiaspanNorvirOmnicefReductil/MeridiaSimcorSynthroid Ultane/SevoraneTriCorTrilipixZemplar