ABBOTT/EUROPROTEOME TO DEVELOP BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), Abbott Park, Ill. and Europroteome AG, of Berlin-Hennigsdorf, Germany, have entered into a research collaboration for the discovery and development of in vitro diagnostic tests for the early detection of breast cancer for use on Abbott's automated instrument systems. The program aims to identify novel markers for breast cancer diagnosis and potential screening.

Under the agreement, Europroteome will apply advanced proteomic and bioinformatic technologies to analyze serum samples from women with breast cancer. Data will be aligned with a panel of cancer markers from Abbott. Combinations of markers will be selected for further development and integration into Abbott's instrument platforms, used widely in hospitals and clinical laboratories throughout the world.

Abbott will make upfront and milestone payments to Europroteome and provide commercial assays and instruments. Abbott will have an option for a royalty-bearing license to the results from the research collaboration and will be responsible for commercial assay development and worldwide sales and marketing.

"We believe this collaboration will further enhance our ability to develop important diagnostic tools for the early detection of breast cancer, which is key to successful treatment intervention," said Edward L. Michael, president, Abbott Molecular Diagnostics. "We are impressed by Europroteome's approach to integrate diagnostic industry platform requirements into the discovery strategy."

"We are very pleased that the value of Europroteome's capabilities and achievements in cancer biomarker discovery is being recognized," said Ulrich Traugott, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer, Europroteome. "Abbott is a first-choice development partner who will ensure that the results of the collaboration are rapidly translated into products that provide a significant medical benefit."

About Europroteome

Europroteome is a product-focused biopharmaceutical company with an associated network of oncology experts. Europroteome operates a state-of-the-art proteomics and gene expression laboratory in Berlin-Hennigsdorf, Germany. Europroteome's mission is to advance the development of cancer drugs and diagnostics based on a unique discovery and validation process that merges both molecular and clinical data. Europroteome founded and operates the Clinical Cancer Network (CCN), which is one of the largest, best-organized and most interactive networks of its kind. The CCN currently consists of experts from about 20 European institutions and is a unique source of medical and scientific know-how.

About Abbott

Abbott Laboratories is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, and medical products, including devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 70,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

For more information, visit http://www.abbott.com or call 847/937-1237.