ABBOTT PARK, Ill., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott today announced the appointment of John M. Taylor III to divisional vice president, Federal Government Affairs. Taylor brings to Abbott significant government experience gained during a distinguished 14-year career with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Previously, Taylor was Associate Commissioner at the FDA, where he was responsible for managing the Office of Regulatory Affairs and advising the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners on regulatory and compliance matters. In his career at the FDA, he worked in the Office of Chief Counsel, Office of Commissioner, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and the Office of Regulatory Affairs.

Taylor currently resides in Maryland. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history and art history from Pennsylvania State University in 1987 and earned a juris doctorate from the College of William and Mary in 1991.

About Abbott

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) 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 60,000 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 .

SOURCE  Abbott
    -0-                             07/18/2005
    /CONTACT:  Media, Melissa Brotz of Abbott, +1-847-935-3456/
    /Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110328.html /
    /Web site:  http://www.abbott.com /
    (ABT)

CO:  Abbott
ST:  Illinois, District of Columbia
IN:  MTC HEA
SU:  PER

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6887 07/18/2005 09:35 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com