Abbott releases Q4 results

Financial results for Abbott in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2007 indicate a global sales growth of 16.1 per cent, it has emerged.

The firm announced that total year figures for 2007 indicate a worldwide sales increase of 15.3 per cent, with international pharmaceutical sales growing by 21.3 per cent.

It is thought that “double-digit” growth of pharmaceutical products Niaspan, TriCor, Humira and Kaletra helped drive global sales last year, with Abbott estimating global sales for Humira may double in 2008.

“The strength and balance of Abbott’s broad mix of businesses helped us to deliver another year of consistent performance,” said Miles D White, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer.

Nutritional products have also been identified by Abbott as an area of growth to watch in the coming year, as sales increased 26.2 per cent.

Additionally, sales of medical products worldwide were boosted by an increase in both international diagnostic sales and diabetes care sales and rose by 11.5 per cent.

The pharmaceutical firm sells products in more than 130 countries.