SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 


 

FORM  8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

October 14, 2005

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

ABBOTT LABORATORIES

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Illinois

 

1-2189

 

36-0698440

(State or other Jurisdiction

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

of Incorporation)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 

100 Abbott Park Road

Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6400

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (847) 937-6100

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o                                    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o                                    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o                                    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o                                    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 


 

 



 

Item 7.01               Regulation FD Disclosure

 

TAP Receives Approvable Letter from FDA on New Drug Application for Febuxostat

 

On Oct. 14, 2005, TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the investigational compound febuxostat for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout.  TAP is confident it will be able to address the contents of the letter and to obtain final approval for febuxostat in a timely manner.  The new drug application for febuxostat was submitted in December 2004 and was based on a number of studies including the largest Phase III studies of chronic gout patients in the United States to date. This approvable letter has no impact on Abbott’s previously stated earnings per share guidance for 2005.

 

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 —
A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for the purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Abbott’s operations are discussed in Exhibit 99.1 of our Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q for the period that ended March 31, 2005, and are incorporated by reference. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.

 

This Report is Being Furnished
 

The information in Item 7.01 of this report is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Regulation FD. Accordingly, the information in Item 7.01 of this report will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by Abbott under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference. The furnishing of the information in this report is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission by Abbott, that the information in this report is material or complete, or that investors should consider this information before making an investment decision with respect to any security of Abbott.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ABBOTT LABORATORIES

 

 

 

 

Date: October 17, 2005

By:

/s/ Thomas C. Freyman

 

 

 

Thomas C. Freyman

 

 

Executive Vice President,
Finance and Chief Financial
Officer

 

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