Abbott health care and nutritional products

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare leader founded in 1888 by Dr. Wallace C. Abbott in Chicago, Illinois. Originally known as the Abbott Alkaloidal Company, it revolutionized medicine by creating 'dosimetric granules'—small, precisely measured pills that provided more consistent dosages than the liquid medicines of the era. Over the next century, the company grew into a diversified giant, expanding into pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and nutrition. A major structural change occurred in 2013 when Abbott spun off its research-based pharmaceutical division into a separate public company called AbbVie, while the 'New Abbott' retained its core medical device, diagnostic, and nutritional businesses.

As of 2026, Abbott continues to be a leading innovator in the healthcare space, recently strengthened by the 2026 acquisition of Exact Sciences, which added the well-known Cologuard screening technology to its portfolio. The company's manufacturing footprint is truly global, with over 30 manufacturing sites and operations in more than 160 countries. Its products, ranging from infant formula like Similac to life-saving medical devices like the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor, are produced in facilities across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America to meet local and international demand.