6.02.2008 - 02:00pm ET

(CSRwire) ABBOTT PARK, Ill., - June 2, 2008 - Abbott today released its 2007 Global Citizenship Report, "Ingenuity at Work," which is available online at www.abbott.com/citizenship. The report highlights Abbott's commitment to access to care, innovation, science education and the environment.

Named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North American Indices in 2007 for the third consecutive year, Abbott remains a leader in economic, social and environmental performance – with the company and the Abbott Fund contributing more than $385 million in grants and products to help improve the lives of millions of people around the world.

"To us, citizenship challenges are core business challenges – they're part of how we effectively develop, manufacture and market a product," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "We view citizenship as a matter of competitiveness and business discipline. We find it invigorating that society is demanding more of business enterprises today, and we're energized to meet and extend these new standards."

Following are some of Abbott's major accomplishments in 2007:

Access to Care

• Provided support and resources to clinics and laboratories in Africa to help people in need access medical care and supplies. Abbott plans to help modernize 23 additional laboratories in Africa in 2008.
  
• Offered more than $183 million worth of free Abbott medicines, nutritionals and medical devices through patient assistance programs worldwide.
  

• Invested more than $2.5 billion in research and development, an increase of 11.1 percent from the previous year. Through medical advancements and new scientific technologies, Abbott is tackling some of today's most pressing chronic diseases – diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
  
• Introduced the first and only co-formulated protease inhibitor tablet suitable for children with HIV. The tablet does not require refrigeration and does not need to be taken with food – two important advances in delivering HIV medicine. Kaletra (known as Aluvia in developing countries) was filed or has been approved in 156 developed and developing countries.
  

• Supported science education in the United States through a new program called "Labs Are Vital," which helps to raise awareness of the life-saving work clinical laboratory professionals provide in improving health outcomes.
  
• Launched pilot programs to enhance science education and worked closely with teachers in several U.S. cities to promote science in the classrooms. In 2008, Abbott aims to expand these programs across the country.
  

• Became the first FORTUNE 500 company to go "carbon neutral" with its fleet of sales vehicles.
  
• Improved operations to help protect the environment, including reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with plans to reduce total emissions by 30 percent by 2011.
  
• Continued to work towards 2010 goals to reduce water usage, waste, employee injuries and commercial vehicle fleet accidents to help generate the greatest environmental, health and safety benefits.
  

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