Company Story
1888 - Abbott Laboratories founded by Dr. Wallace Abbott in Chicago, Illinois
1907 - Abbott introduces its first pharmaceutical product, a solution of sodium salicylate
1916 - Abbott begins manufacturing insulin, becoming one of the first companies to do so
1922 - Abbott introduces its first antibiotic, Sulfathiazole
1942 - Abbott develops and manufactures penicillin during World War II
1952 - Abbott introduces its first diagnostic test, the Abbott-Abbott test for syphilis
1964 - Abbott introduces its first coronary care product, the Coronary Care System
1985 - Abbott introduces its first HIV test, the Abbott HIV-1/HIV-2 (rDNA) EIA
1996 - Abbott acquires MediSense, a leading developer of glucose monitoring systems
2001 - Abbott acquires Knoll Pharmaceutical Company, expanding its pharmaceutical portfolio
2007 - Abbott acquires Kos Pharmaceuticals, expanding its cardiovascular franchise
2013 - Abbott spins off its research-based pharmaceutical business, AbbVie