Abbott Laboratories to Offer AIDS Drugs and Rapid Diagnostic Test at No Profit In Africa 

ABBOTT PARK, IL March 27, 2001 -- Abbott Laboratories today announced that it will offer its two antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV infection, Kaletra(TM) (lopinavir/ritonavir) and Norvir(R) (ritonavir), in Africa at no profit to Abbott.

Additionally, Abbott will make its Determine(TM) HIV-1/2 rapid test available in Africa, also at no profit to Abbott. Determine is an easy-to-use, rapid, qualitative immunoassay test that can detect the presence of HIV-1/2 antibodies using a small amount of whole blood, human serum, or plasma, without instrumentation. The Determine HIV-1/2 test was specifically developed for use in settings where access to laboratory equipment is limited. "AIDS has taken an unprecedented toll on the health, economic, and social structures of Africa," said Miles D. White, Abbott chairman and chief executive officer. "Abbott has taken this action to give people most affected by this disease a better opportunity to access care. It is our sincere hope that this action, along with those of other pharmaceutical companies, will lead governments and other sources of international funding to help make a difference for millions of people who need AIDS care. The next step in the global response is to develop the infrastructure necessary to deliver effective treatment."

Abbott will continue its ongoing dialogue with representatives from the World Health Organization and UNAIDS to optimize access to antiretroviral therapies and use of diagnostic tools. Abbott will make these products available to qualified entities that can provide the drugs to patients in Africa as part of a sound and sustainable therapeutic program. Qualified entities include government and non- governmental organizations, United Nations system organizations, and other national and international health institutions. The products for Africa must be used in the country where they are sold and cannot be exported.

Abbott's initiative is one of a number of steps the company has taken to address multiple aspects of the HIV pandemic. Abbott and the company's philanthropic arm, the Abbott Laboratories Fund, established Step Forward...for the world's children, in June 2000. By providing funding, medical supplies and community support, Step Forward was developed to address the needs of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, who, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will number 40 million by 2010.

Step Forward is currently active in Tanzania, Burkina Faso, India, and Romania. Additionally, Abbott is working directly with the Tanzanian government on a pilot initiative to increase access to treatment and care for the country's growing AIDS population, which is estimated at more than 1.3 million.