Exhibit 99.1
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Financial Review and other sections of this Form 10-K contain
forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations,
estimates and projections. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends,"
"plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," variations of these words and similar
expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Certain
factors, including but not limited to those listed below, may cause actual
results to differ materially from current expectations, estimates, projections
and from past results.
o Economic factors including changes in the rate of inflation, business
conditions, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and
market value of Abbott's equity investments.
o Competitive factors, including: (i) pricing pressures, both in the
United States and abroad, primarily from managed care groups and
government agencies, (ii) the development of new products by
competitors having lower prices or superior performance or that are
otherwise competitive with Abbott's current products, (iii) generic
competition when Abbott's products lose their patent or regulatory
protection, (iv) technological advances, patents and registrations
obtained by competitors and (v) problems with licensors, suppliers and
distributors.
o Difficulties and delays inherent in the development, manufacturing,
marketing, or sale of products including: (i) efficacy or safety
concerns, (ii) delays in the receipt of or the inability to obtain
required approvals, (iii) the suspension or revocation of the
authority necessary for manufacture, marketing, or sale, (iv) the
imposition of additional or different regulatory requirements, such as
those affecting labeling, (v) seizure or recall of products, (vi) the
failure to obtain, the imposition of limitations on the use of, or the
loss of patent and other intellectual property rights, (vii) loss of
regulatory exclusivity, and (viii) manufacturing or distribution
problems.
o Governmental action including: (i) new laws, regulations and judicial
decisions related to health care availability, method of delivery and
payment for health care products and services, (ii) changes in the
Federal Food and Drug Administration and foreign regulatory approval
processes that may delay or prevent the approval of new products and
result in lost market opportunity, (iii) new laws, regulations and
judicial decisions affecting pricing or marketing and (iv) changes in
the tax laws relating to Abbott's operations.
o Changes in accounting standards promulgated by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission or
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
o Changes in costs or expenses, including variations resulting from
changes in product mix, changes in tax rates both in the United States
and abroad, the effects of acquisitions, dispositions or other events
occurring in connection with evolving business strategies.
o Complying with the consent decree between Abbott and the United States
Food and Drug Administration (this consent decree is described in the
portion of this Form 10-K captioned "Regulation") and Abbott's ability
to return diagnostic products to market successfully.
o Legal difficulties, any of which could preclude commercialization of
products or adversely affect profitability, including: claims
asserting antitrust violations, claims asserting securities law
violations, claims asserting violations of the Federal False Claims
Act, Anti-Kickback Act, the Prescription Drug Marketing Act or other
violations in connection with Medicare and/or Medicaid reimbursement,
derivative actions, product liability claims, disputes over
intellectual property rights (including patents) and environmental
matters.
No assurance can be made that any expectation, estimate or projection contained
in a forward-looking statement can be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date made.
Abbott undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to
forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.