Science & Innovation

Since Dr. Wallace C. Abbott helped pioneer the new science of pharmaceutical medicine with his "dosimetric granules" more than 100 years ago, our company continues its legacy of innovation that significantly improves the practice of health care.

Underscored by leading internal research capabilities, Abbott’s scientific innovation results in breakthrough health care solutions that advance patient care through leading pharmaceuticals, laboratory diagnostics, and medical, surgical and nutritional products.

The list of Abbott examples goes back many decades and includes a broad spectrum of products. In 1936, we introduced the anesthetic agent Pentothal, which led to the induction of two of our scientists in the U.S. Inventors Hall of Fame, and we followed up five years later by being one of the original five producers of penicillin. In the ensuing years, Abbott has developed and launched a large number of antibiotics such as erythromycin, Biaxin XL (clarithromycin extended-release tablets, USP), and Omnicef (cefdinir).

We have continued to deliver innovative products throughout the years: the launch of nutritional products such as Similac infant formula and Ensure, the first lactose-free adult medical nutritional product; the development and marketing of the world’s first AIDS test; the introduction of Depakote (divalproex sodium delayed-release tablets), for the treatment of epilepsy; the launch of ABBOTT PRISM, the first fully-automated, high-volume blood analyzer; the development of Norvir (ritonavir) and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir), HIV protease inhibitors that improve treatment for many patients; the discovery and development of HUMIRA (adalimumab), a human monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and active arthritis associated with psoriatic arthritis; and many others.

The pace of our work in the development of new technologies and treatments has only accelerated in the new century. In 2005, Abbott spent $1.8 billion on research and development, nearly double the spending of just five years before. We also have several research centers dedicated to scientific discovery and development, focusing on therapeutic areas of greatest unmet medical need and scientific opportunity.

Our scientists are always looking for the best methods to improve people's lives, whether they are developing technologies that shorten the time to identify disease targets, producing drugs that act against these targets, or inventing innovative packaging that gives parents more convenient baby formula options.

We are developing novel diagnostic and treatment options in a number of disciplines, including therapies that target specific causes of immunological diseases, advanced molecular diagnostic testing that studies gene changes for earlier disease detection, new methods of minimally and noninvasive blood glucose testing, new spinal treatments, important work in the field of drug-eluting stents for vascular procedures, and many others.

For important product information, please access:

• Biaxin XL Important Safety Information and the Biaxin XL US Prescribing Information
• Omnicef Important Safety Information (pediatric)/ Omnicef Important Safety Information (adolescents and adults) and the Omnicef US Prescribing Information
• Depakote Important Safety Information and the Depakote US Prescribing Information
• Norvir Important Safety Information and the Norvir US Prescribing Information
• Kaletra Important Safety Information and the Kaletra US Prescribing Information
• Humira Important Safety Information and the Humira US Prescribing Information