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Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is a globally recognized American multinational company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois. Founded in 1888, Abbott has established itself as a leader in medical devices and health care. The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including cardiovascular and diabetes devices, adult and pediatric nutritional products, diagnostic equipment, testing kits, and branded generic drugs.
Abbott's product portfolio includes pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, neuromodulation devices, coronary stents, catheters, infant formula, nutritional liquids for adults, continuous glucose monitors, and immunoassays along with point-of-care diagnostic equipment. Approximately 60% of Abbott’s sales are derived from markets outside the United States, underlining its global reach and influence.
Recently, Abbott introduced the PROTALITY™ brand, a high-protein nutrition shake aimed at supporting weight loss while preserving muscle mass. This innovation reflects Abbott's commitment to addressing global health challenges such as obesity and muscle health. The company also continues to make strides in medical technology with advancements like the TriClip™ system for tricuspid valve repair, and the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring systems, which have set new standards in diabetes management.
Abbott is not only focused on innovative product development but also on strategic partnerships and sustainability. The extension of their partnership with the Real Madrid Foundation, aimed at reducing childhood malnutrition and promoting healthy habits, is a testament to their commitment to global health improvements.
Financially, Abbott has demonstrated robust performance, as evidenced by its consistent dividend payouts and its inclusion in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. The company reported strong Q1 2024 results with significant growth in their core business segments, further supported by successful product launches and clinical innovations.
Abbott’s mission to help people live more fully at all stages of life drives their development of life-changing technologies across diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines. With a workforce of over 114,000 employees serving people in over 160 countries, Abbott continues to set benchmarks in the healthcare industry.
Abbott has established the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition, a global partnership aimed at early detection and rapid response to pandemic threats. This innovative coalition connects global testing centers to identify new viruses, assess risks, and develop diagnostics swiftly. The initiative emerged from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and builds on Abbott's three-decade experience in viral surveillance. The coalition includes collaborations with various international institutions for effective monitoring and response to emerging health threats.
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has launched the NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic, a groundbreaking technology approved by the FDA, designed to enhance patient care for those with chronic pain and movement disorders. This remote care platform allows patients to communicate with their physicians via secure video chat, enabling clinicians to prescribe new treatment settings remotely. NeuroSphere aims to overcome accessibility barriers, especially for those living far from care providers. Medicare will cover remote programming services as a telehealth benefit, expanding access to vital treatments.
Abbott has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its Alinity™ m Resp-4-Plex assay, enabling simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, and RSV. This assay utilizes a single swab and offers fast, efficient diagnosis crucial for effective treatment. Additionally, the EUA for Abbott's SARS-CoV-2 test includes asymptomatic cases and allows the pooling of samples. The Alinity m system enhances laboratory efficiency, supporting healthcare workers in managing respiratory viral infections during the pandemic.
Abbott has discovered a significant population of HIV elite controllers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 2.7-4.3% of individuals test positive for HIV antibodies yet have low to non-detectable viral loads without antiretroviral treatment. This research, published in EBioMedicine, may aid in developing new HIV treatments and vaccines. The findings highlight an unusual physiological phenomenon in the DRC and continue Abbott's commitment to HIV research through its Global Viral Surveillance Program, which has been operational for over 25 years.
Abbott's board of directors declared a quarterly common dividend of 45 cents per share, marking the 389th consecutive quarterly dividend since 1924. This dividend is payable on May 17, 2021, to shareholders of record by April 15, 2021. Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 49 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index.
The global infant nutrition market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7%, reaching $61.6 billion by 2026. This growth is driven by a rising population of working mothers seeking convenient nutrition options. Companies like Else Nutrition (TSXV:BABY), Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:KHC), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), Danone (OTCQX:DANOY), and Walmart (NYSE:WMT) are capitalizing on this trend. Notably, Else Nutrition has launched a plant-based formula and expanded its distribution in North America through major retailers.
Abbott reported Q4 2020 sales of $10.7 billion, marking a 28.7% increase from the previous year. GAAP diluted EPS reached $1.20, with adjusted diluted EPS at $1.45, up 52.6%. The company expects 2021 diluted EPS to be at least $3.74, with adjusted EPS projected at $5.00, reflecting over 35% growth. COVID-19 testing drove $2.4 billion in sales, primarily through rapid tests. Abbott increased its dividend by 25% to $0.45 per share, continuing a 49-year streak of annual increases.
Abbott has received CE Mark approval for two new uses of its Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device: for asymptomatic testing and self-swabbing. This enables mass testing of asymptomatic individuals, crucial as they represent up to 50% of COVID-19 infections. Abbott has shipped 200 million tests globally and is pursuing FDA approval for similar indications in the U.S. The updates aim to facilitate safer returns to work, school, and travel, leveraging rapidly conducted screenings to support public health.
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has announced that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised its National Coverage Determination to expand insurance coverage for the MitraClip device, now including patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) due to heart failure. This decision significantly broadens access to treatment for an estimated 4 million Americans suffering from MR, particularly benefiting older patients reliant on Medicare. The revision follows clinical data showing high MR reduction rates with MitraClip, improving the quality of life and survival rates for eligible patients.
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is set to launch the NeuroSphere myPath, a digital health app aimed at chronic pain management. The app enables patients undergoing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) therapy to track pain relief and overall well-being during the trial period. It allows patients to connect with Abbott support, access educational resources, and report their progress directly from their Apple devices. The app reinforces Abbott's commitment to enhancing patient care through digital innovation and will soon be available on Android devices.