XIENCE(TM) V Drug Eluting Stent from Abbott Reduces Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Small Vessel Patients Out to One Year

Barcelona, Spain (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Data from SPIRIT II and III Clinical Trials Also Show
Improvement in Vessel Renarrowing with XIENCE V Compared to TAXUS in
Patients with Small Vessels

Data presented today from an independent pooled subset analysis
of Abbott's SPIRIT II and SPIRIT III clinical trials demonstrated a
clinically significant 51 percent reduction in major adverse cardiac
events (MACE) with the XIENCE(TM) V Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent
System compared to the TAXUS(R) paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent
system in patients with small vessels out to one year. The data were
presented during an Abbott-sponsored symposium at EuroPCR 2008.

"Clinical evidence from the SPIRIT II and SPIRIT III trials
demonstrate that patients with small vessels who are treated with
XIENCE V are less likely to experience major adverse cardiac events
than patients treated with TAXUS," said Antonio L. Bartorelli, M.D.,
Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Institute of Cardiology, University of
Milan and an investigator in the SPIRIT trials. "Patients with small
vessels often present with challenging anatomy that can complicate
treatment, so the performance of the XIENCE V drug eluting stent in
these patients is encouraging."

The pooled analysis evaluated a subset of 541 patients from the
SPIRIT II and SPIRIT III clinical trials who had small vessels
(median reference vessel diameter less than 2.765 mm), and lesion
lengths that were less than or equal to 28 mm. The results of the
meta-analysis demonstrated:

-- A clinically significant 51 percent reduction in the risk of MACE for
patients with small vessels who were treated with XIENCE V compared
to TAXUS (5.1 percent XIENCE V vs. 10.5 percent TAXUS,
p-value=0.021)* at one year. MACE is an important composite clinical
measure of safety and efficacy outcomes for patients, defined as
cardiac death, heart attack (MI), or ischemia-driven target lesion
revascularization (TLR driven by lack of blood supply).
-- An observed 52 percent reduction in the risk of ischemia-driven TLR
for XIENCE V compared to TAXUS at one year (3.0 percent XIENCE V vs.
6.2 percent TAXUS, p-value=0.076)*.
-- An observed 50 percent reduction in in-stent late loss (mean, 0.15 mm
XIENCE V vs. 0.30 mm TAXUS) and an observed 52 percent reduction in
in-segment late loss (mean, 0.10 mm XIENCE V vs. 0.21 mm TAXUS) with
XIENCE V compared to TAXUS at six or eight months. Both in-stent and
in-segment late loss are measures of vessel renarrowing.
-- No difference in the rates of stent thrombosis between XIENCE V and
TAXUS per Academic Research Consortium (ARC) definition or protocol
definition. Rates of definite/probable stent thrombosis out to one
year under ARC definition were 0.3 percent for XIENCE V and 1.3
percent for TAXUS. Rates of stent thrombosis out to one year per
protocol also were 0.3 percent for XIENCE V and 1.3 percent for
TAXUS.

"The strong efficacy data for XIENCE V in small vessels adds to
the growing body of evidence supporting Abbott's everolimus eluting
stent system as an important next-generation treatment for coronary
artery disease," said Charles Simonton, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, divisional
vice president, Medical Affairs and chief medical officer, Abbott
Vascular.

* Event rates are based on Kaplan-Meier estimates; p-values are for
descriptive purposes only.

About XIENCE V

The XIENCE V stent system utilizes everolimus, which has been
shown to reduce tissue proliferation in the coronary vessels
following stent implantation, and is based upon the highly
deliverable and proven MULTI-LINK VISION(R) coronary stent platform.

XIENCE V was launched in Europe and other international markets
in October 2006. XIENCE V is currently an investigational device in
the United States and Japan, and is under review for approval by the
FDA. Abbott expects to gain FDA approval for XIENCE V in the second
quarter of 2008.

Abbott also supplies a private-label version of XIENCE V to
Boston Scientific called the PROMUS(TM) Everolimus-Eluting Coronary
Stent System. PROMUS is designed, studied and manufactured by Abbott
and supplied as part of a distribution agreement between the two
companies.

Everolimus is licensed to Abbott by Novartis for use on its drug
eluting stents.

For images of Abbott's XIENCE V stent and other information,
please visit the company's online newsroom at
http://www.abbottvascular.com/presskit.

About Abbott Vascular

Abbott Vascular, a division of Abbott, is one of the world's
leading vascular care businesses. Abbott Vascular is uniquely focused
on advancing the treatment of vascular disease and improving patient
care by combining the latest medical device innovations with
world-class pharmaceuticals, investing in research and development,
and advancing medicine through training and education. Headquartered
in Northern California, Abbott Vascular offers a comprehensive
portfolio of vessel closure, endovascular and coronary products that
are recognized internationally for their safety and effectiveness in
treating patients with vascular disease.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to
the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of
pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices
and diagnostics. The company employs more than 68,000 people and
markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the
company's Web site at http://www.abbott.com.

Web site: http://www.abbott.com

ots Originaltext: Abbott Laboratories
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