Abbott Enters Agreement with Cincinnati Children's Hospital to Develop Test to Detect Acute Kidney Failure


ABBOTT PARK, Ill., June 27 -- Abbott today announced it has signed an exclusive agreement with Cincinnati Children's Hospital to develop a urine-based diagnostic assay to detect kidney injury and disease using the protein neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). NGAL is a biomarker that has been reported to be valuable in assisting physicians in rapidly and accurately diagnosing acute kidney failure in a matter of hours compared to current tests that may take up to several days.

"We are excited to begin our work in developing a test that may help clinicians address kidney failure much earlier and with greater precision," said William E. Brown, Ph.D., vice president, diagnostic assays and systems development, Abbott. "When available, this will be an important addition to our menus, and represents the cutting edge diagnostic science that laboratory customers expect from Abbott."

Acute kidney failure is present in five percent of all hospital admissions and in up to 30 percent of those patients in intensive care unit. When advanced kidney failure is observed in the intensive care unit, mortality rates of 40 to 80 percent have been reported.(1) The cost of treating advanced kidney failure in the intensive care unit is $50,000 per patient.(2)

"Early identification of acute kidney failure is the key to helping physicians manage and treat the condition more effectively," said Prasad Devarajan, M.D., director of the division of nephrology and hypertension at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "Developing effective, accurate and reliable diagnostic tests for this condition will significantly improve patient health and lower deaths."

A study in the April 2005 edition of The Lancet reported that concentrations of NGAL were "strikingly raised" in the urine and serum of children with acute kidney failure after undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. In addition, a study published in the May 2006 edition of the American Journal of Transplantation reported that NGAL may be used to predict kidney failure in patients following kidney transplantation.

"The work carried out by Dr. Devarajan represents a pioneering effort to move medicine into a more individualized and prospective mode," said Tom Boat, M.D., chairman of pediatrics and director of The Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation. "Called 'predictive medicine,' this approach to care should improve health outcomes and reduce costs by providing critical information in a more timely fashion."

NGAL is one of several innovative biomarkers that Abbott scientists are working with to develop assays for its analyzers. Abbott is developing automated assays to help physicians diagnose patients with preeclampsia and small cell lung cancer. Brown said that Abbott expects to introduce such assays, among others, over the next several years.

About Abbott Diagnostics

Abbott Diagnostics is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics and offers a broad range of innovative instrument systems and tests for hospitals, reference labs, blood banks, physician offices and clinics. With more than 69,000 institutional customers in more than 100 countries, Abbott's diagnostic products offer customers automation, convenience, cost effectiveness and flexibility. Abbott has helped transform the practice of medical diagnosis from an art to a science through the company's commitment to improving patient care and lowering overall costs. The history of Abbott Diagnostics is filled with examples of first-of-a-kind products and significant technological advancements.

About Abbott

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) 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 www.abbott.com/ .

(1) Mishra et al, Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a
biomarker for acute renal injury after cardiac surgery, The Lancet,
Vol 365, April 2, 2005. 1231-1238

(2) Hamel MB, Phillips RS, Davis RB et al. Outcomes and cost
effectiveness of initiating dialysis and continuing aggressive care in
seriously ill hospitalized adults. Ann. Intern. Med. 127, 195-202
(1997).

Source: Abbott

CONTACT: Media, Jim Schwartz, +1-847-937-3932, or Financial Community,
John Thomas, +1-847-938-2655, both of Abbott

Web site: www.abbott.com/

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