Original from: Abbott

·    Agreement to acquire business adds innovative, real-time image recognition technology and expertise to GE HealthCare’s portfolio of AI-enabled devices

·    AI-based technology from Intelligent Ultrasound aims to provide real-time support for OBGYN scans and improve exam accuracy and efficiency

·    Planned acquisition supports GE HealthCare’s precision care strategy to address inefficiencies and improve patient care quality

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

- Second-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.74 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.14, which excludes specified items.

- Abbott raised its full-year 2024 EPS guidance range. Abbott projects full-year diluted EPS on a GAAP basis of $3.30 to $3.40 and projects adjusted diluted EPS of $4.61 to $4.71.

- Abbott narrowed its full-year 2024 organic sales growth guidance range, excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, to 9.5% to 10.0%, which represents an increase at the midpoint of the range2.

- In April, Abbott announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Esprit™ below-the-knee (BTK) system, a breakthrough innovation for people living with peripheral artery disease. This system is designed to keep arteries open and deliver a drug to support vessel healing prior to completely dissolving.

- In June, Abbott announced U.S. FDA clearance for two new over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring systems — Lingo™ and Libre Rio™, which are based on Abbott's world-leading FreeStyle Libre® continuous glucose monitoring technology3.

- In June, Abbott obtained CE Mark for its AVEIR® dual chamber (DR) leadless pacemaker system, the world's first dual chamber leadless pacemaker system that treats people with abnormal or slow heart rhythms.

- During the first half of 2024, Abbott announced 10 new growth opportunities coming from the company's highly productive R&D pipeline. These include a combination of new product approvals and new treatment indications.

"We achieved another quarter of strong growth in our underlying base business," said Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "We have a lot of positive momentum heading into the second half of the year and are raising our full-year guidance."

Management believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange, the impact of discontinuing the ZonePerfect® product line in the Nutrition business, and the impact of the acquisition of Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI) during the first year post-acquisition, is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the core underlying performance of the business. Management further believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis excluding COVID-19 tests is an appropriate way for investors to best understand underlying base business performance as the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted to an endemic state, resulting in significantly lower demand for COVID-19 tests.

Note: In order to compute results excluding the impact of exchange rates, current year U.S. dollar sales are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the current year average foreign exchange rates and then those amounts are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the prior year average foreign exchange rates. 

As expected, Diagnostics sales growth in the second quarter was negatively impacted by year-over-year declines in COVID-19 testing-related sales4. Worldwide COVID-19 testing sales were $102 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $263 million in the second quarter of the prior year.

Excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, global Diagnostics sales increased 1.8 percent on a reported basis and 5.9 percent on an organic basis.

Excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, global Core Laboratory Diagnostics sales increased 3.0 percent on a reported basis and 8.8 percent on an organic basis, led by continued strong adoption of Abbott's Alinity® family of diagnostics systems and testing portfolios. 

Source: Abbott Reports Second-Quarter 2024 Results And Raises Full-Year Guidance